§ 23. Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many experiments on animals have been carried out without anaesthesia at Porton Down during the past five years.
§ Mr. LeeI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on Thursday 8 March 1984. [Official Report c. 711].
All animals used in wounding studies are deeply anaesthetised when wounded. Of the experiments connected with the chemical and biological defence programme, many involve minimal, if any, discomfort. Although the majority of experiments are carried out without anaesthetic, analgesics may be used to relieve pain. If an animal is found to be suffering severe pain which is likely to endure, it is at once painlessly killed.
§ 31. Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many species of animals have been used in experiments on wound studies; and how many experiments have been conducted under anaesthetics.
§ Mr. LeeSix species have been used since 1977. The majority have ben pigs and sheep. Some rats, rabbits, rhesus monkeys and baboons have also been used. In every experiment, the animals were deeply anaesthetised when wounded.
§ 34. Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for Defence which species and sub-species of animals have been used during the last five years at Porton Down to study the effects of radiation; and how many animals were used during this period.