HC Deb 20 March 1925 vol 181 cc2643-5W
Mr. AMMON

asked the Secretary of State for War the number and nature of the subordinate staff additional to the 22 naval, military, and Air Force officers and the 26 civilian scientists employed at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

The subordinate staff at the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton consists of 82 soldiers and 92 civilians.

Mr. AMMON

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the research and experiments relating to defence against chemical warfare undertaken at the Porton Chemical Warfare Research Department; whether research and experiments are entirely concerned with defence against poison gases; and whether new poison gases or other forms of chemical warfare are being investigated?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Research and experiment relating to defence against gas are directed towards the methods and appliances for individual and collective protection, and also towards the treatment of gas casualties. Research and experiment are primarily concerned with defence against gas, but it is essential, for the purpose of protection against gas, to investigate the possibilities of new gases and other forms of chemical warfare which might be illicitly employed against this country.

Mr. AMMON

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the 1,001 live animals used in 1924 for experimental purposes at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station, how many of them were killed by the experiments; and how many had to be destroyed as a result of the effects of the experiments?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

The animals used for experimental purposes at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station in 1924 were as follow:—

Goats 3
Monkeys 4
Cats 68
Rabbits 445
Guinea pigs 251
fiats 166
Mice 64
Total 1,001

Of these, 337 were actually killed as the result of the experiments and the remainder were destroyed, not necessarily as the result of the effects of the experiments, but because it is the rule to destroy animals after they have been used for this purpose