§ Mr. AYLESasked the Secretary of State for War the numbers and kinds of animals that have been used in each year for experimental purposes at Porton chemical warfare laboratory since the establishment of the laboratory; and the number that have been killed each year as a result of the experiments?
§ Mr. SHAW, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 259, Vol. 237], circulated the following
635W
Numbers killed as a result of the Experiments. Animals. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. Totals. Rabbits … 2 12 19 80 103 93 18 46 17 23 413 Rats … — 77 34 76 8 — — — — — 195 Goats … — 24 24 — 11 1 — 1 — 1 62 Guinea … — 23 43 104 27 53 52 45 26 2 375 Cats … — 10 20 15 15 11 1 4 4 3 83 Monkeys … — 10 7 — — — — — — — 17 Mice … — 19 49 62 8 12 14 94 — — 258 Horses … — — — — — — — — — — — Canaries … — — — — — — — 24 16 — 40 Pigeons … — — — — — — — 26 12 — 38 Fowls … — — — — — — — 30 — — 30 Sheep … — — — — — — — — — — — Figures prior to 1921 are not available.
§ Mr. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is making experiments with poisonous gas on living animals; and, if so, what is the nature of the tests, on what animals are they made, and where is the experimental station?
§ Mr. SHAWExperiments with animals have been carried out for many years at the Chemical Warfare Experimental Station, Porton. The tests involved are designed to ascertain the efficacy of methods of defence against poisonous gases, and to evolve efficient methods for treating gas casualties. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a Table showing the numbers and kinds of animals used for experimental purposes at Porton.