§ Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for War what factories are engaged in the manufacture of poison gases and other chemicals for war purposes, and the establishment in each case?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThere is one research establishment at Sutton Oak at which small quantities of gas required for experimental purposes are produced, but the establishment is mainly concerned with research and experimental work. It has a staff of eight with some 55 subordinates.
§ Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for War how many live animals have been used since 1st January, 1925, for experimental purposes at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station: the numbers of the different kinds of animals used; how many were killed by experiments; and how many had to be destroyed as a result of the effects of the experiments?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe information asked for in respect of the period 1st January, 1925–31st October, 1926, is as follows:
898W
Animals. Number used. Number killed by experiments. Number destroyed. Rabbits 849 187 488 Guinea pigs 209 44 164 Mice 60 20 40 Goats 40 12 28 Cats 58 24 26 Rats 11 8 3 Horses 17 — 17 The horses used for experiments were suffering from some incurable disability which would, apart from the experiment, have necessitated their destruction. As regards the other animals it was not the policy from 1st January, 1925, to 16th February, 1926, to destroy animals which had apparently suffered no harm, but as it was difficult to be certain that the animals had not received any injury and there was considerable danger of subsequent experiments being vitiated, it was decided to re-introduce the procedure of destroying all animals.
§ Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for War the number of naval, military, and Air Force officers employed at the Porton Chemical Warfare Experimental Station; the number of civilian scientists; and the number and nature of the subordinate staff?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe staff at the Experimental Station, Porton, for which provision is made in Estimates 1926, consists of 22 naval, military and air officers, 56 civilian scientists and one naval, 68 military and 120 civilian subordinate staff.