HC Deb 22 March 1984 vol 56 cc571-2W
Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the role and work of the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, in particular the contribution made by experiments involving animals and by service volunteers.

Mr. Lee

Following is the information:

Animal experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down

1. The Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE), Porton Down, employs about 600 people. It was established in 1916 to combat the German use of Chlorine gas in World War I.

2. CDE today is principally responsible for research and development in the field of defence against chemical attack. Although the United Kingdom itself has abandoned chemical weapons, and their first use is banned under the Geneva Gas Protocol of 1925, the Soviet Union maintains very substantial stocks of chemical weapons and it is essential that our Forces are protected. It is also necessary to ensure protection against biological warfare. Other work includes the study of wounds so as to improve medical understanding and hence treatment.

3. The use of live animals for experiments is governed by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. It has been the consistent policy of the Ministry of Defence to comply fully with the Act. CDE is a registered place under the Act and all staff carrying out experiments with animals are licensed. All conditions imposed on licences are complied with and where the Act requires supplementary certificates, these are obtained. For example, this is necessary where animals are allowed to recover from anaesthesia. Scheduled or, more usually, unannounced visits are made by Home Office Inspectors to satisfy themselves that the requirements of the Act are met and we have had no criticism in this regard. Experiments must be performed "with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering".

4. Independent advice and audit of MOD's animal programmes is provided under the aegis of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council by eminent physicians and surgeons.

5. Experiments involving living animals are only carried out where the purpose of the work is of real importance, it is judged essential to use animals for this purpose, and the most careful consideration of alternatives has demonstrated that none is an adequate substitute. CDE is itself responsible for some research into extending the use of alternative methods to animals and has contact with other organisations working in the field.

Numbers of experiments

6. In 1983 CDE undertook about 9,500 animal experiments which were subject to the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 and notified to the Home Office (17,200 in 1981 and 13,400 in 1982). Approximately 300 further procedures, in which animals were painlessly killed, for example to provide tissue for further study, were performed but are not notifiable under the Cruelty to Animals Act. The vast majority of CDE's experiments were in the chemical defence area and were not connected with wounding. About 65 staff are licensed to perform animal experiments. The total number of animal experiments in the United Kingdom as a whole during 1982 reported to the Home Office was about 4.2 million (the 1983 total is not yet available).

Chemical defence

7. Work on chemical defence falls into three main areas: the detection of chemical agents; the protection of equipment and personnel; and therapy, including prophylactic treatments to increase the body's natural resistance and treatment after exposure.

Wounding studies

8. The study of wounding is undertaken to increase knowledge of the effects of wounds, contributing to the improvement of treatment. No animals are used to practise surgery, or in work to improve weapons on ammunition performance. All animals are deeply anaesthetised when wounded.

9. Most animals used in these studies died or are killed while still under anaesthesia but a proportion are allowed to recover so that the development of the injury may be studied. Recovery experiments are covered by one of the special certificates provided for in the Cruelty to Animals Act; analgesics are administered as required to relieve pain.

10. In 1983 51 animals — mainly pigs, with some sheep and rabbits—were used in wounding studies. Over the period 1977–1983, wounding studies have involved 194 penetrating injuries and 438 non-penetrating or blast-type injuries. Animals—mainly pigs and sheep—are chosen to provide the best model of human physiology for the particular purpose of the experiment. Some primates have been used in the past. Contrary to some recent allegations, dogs, cats and horses have not been used; nor is there any question of animals being subjected to aerial bombardment or strafing.

11. Experience with actual casualties has made a large contribution to improved treatment of wounds. But it cannot altogether substitute for the detailed physiological monitoring from the moment of wounding, which is possible only with controlled animal experiments such as those carried out at CDE. There is no doubt that this work has contributed significantly to wound therapy for both Service personnel and civilians.

Other work involving animals

12. In order to limit the risk to human beings in cases of not control work has been done on safe use of control agents such as CS and baton rounds.

Use of Service volunteers

13. In addition to animal experiments, CDE's work includes the use of volunteer Service personnel to help ensure protection against the threat of chemical attack. NBC clothing—nuclear, biological, chemical — is of course standard issue for all BAOR troops and it is necessary to test new designs of clothing or respirators to ensure that the wearer is both protected and able to operate effectively in a hostile environment. Volunteers may also participate in medical studies. All tests are carefully designed and controlled and great care is taken to ensure the health and well-being of volunteers.

14. Some 200 Service personnel participate in tests each year, usually spending a fortnight at CDE. All are regular Service personnel who volunteer freely. They are carefully briefed on the nature of the tests in which they will take part and reminded that they may withdraw if they have any doubts. Volunteers are entitled to additional pay, perhaps up to £80 (before tax) over a fortnight; the amount is deliberately set not so high that anyone with doubts would be induced to participate purely for the sake of the money. Service volunteers have been used for over sixty years (the use of volunteers has been traced back to 1922, but started before then).

Security considerations

15. As is the case with many other Defence activities, a great deal of CDE's work must be protected in the interests of national security. To make detailed information available—for example, statistics on the usage of particular species—could in many cases enable an informed observer to gain a useful insight into the scope of CDE's work and the line particular research is taking to the detriment of national security. Some broad information may, however, be provided without compromising security. It is also recognised that much of CDE's research, such as wounding studies, may be of wider scientific or medical interests. Relevant results are published in the scientific and medical journals and such papers give details of animal usage in the particular experiments reported. CDE staff participate in lectures and conferences with both Service and civilian surgeons.

16. To conclude, all work at CDE, Porton Down is carefully controlled and monitored; is conducted by appropriately qualified personnel to the highest standards and is done under relevant legislation. We believe the work to be of extreme importance and in the national interest.