§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what mechanisms the unclassified versions of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's substantive reports are made public; and if he will assess the advantages of making public the annual reports and minutes of the independent ethics committee of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in the same way. [6929]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotMy Department's chief scientific adviser awaits the initial report from the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, which is expected to be delivered before the end of the year. The precise mechanism by which this will subsequently be published has not yet been decided. As regards the publication of the annual reports and minutes of the ethics committee for Porton Down, the position remains as given in my reply to the hon. Member of 18 July 1995,Official Report, column 1162.