§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Defence, during the last five years at Porton down, which species and sub-species of animals were used in the manufacture, development and testing of chemical and biological warfare agents; and how many of each species and sub-species were used.
§ Mr. LeeNone, since the United Kingdom does not manufacture, develop or test chemical or biological agents for use in warfare. The chemical defence programme, which accounts for the vast majority of animal experiments at CDE Porton Down, is concerned with establishing the toxicity of potential agents which might be used against United Kingdom forces and the efficacy and safety of possible treatments.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary for State for Defence if he will list the experiments that have taken place on animals at the Royal Army medical college, Millbank, London, during each of the last five years; and if such experiments are still taking place.
§ Mr. LeeNo experiments on living animals under the terms of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 have taken place at the Royal Army Medical College in the last five years. A small number of guinea pigs, mice and rabbits have been used as controls in the testing of human tissue for disease; such tests do not constitute experiments on living animals under the terms of the Act.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the results of the 543 experiments which took place on animals for warfare research at Porton Down have been published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeI assume the hon. Member is referring to wounding studies, which are directed at improving medical understanding and treatment of wounds, not at testing of weapons or ammunition and are, therefore, not accurately described as warfare research. Papers are published from time to time with the aim of sharing and enlarging medical and scientific knowledge through the dissemination of relevant results.