§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the animals subjected to experiments at Porton Down in each of the last five years died as a result of the experiments; and what happened to those animals that did not die. [50626]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 July 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of animals which died as a result of experiments at Porton Down.A total of 44,913 procedures were carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down over the last five years. At the end the majority of the experiments, surviving animals were killed humanely using an approved method as specified in the project licence issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Information on the number of procedures resulting in the deaths of animals is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.In 1990, a revision to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 required the number of procedures to be recorded rather than the number of animals involved. In most cases, the number of procedures equates to the number of animals. However, in some cases more than one procedure was carried out on a single animal. For example, during the last five years, a few horses and sheep were used to produce blood products and every blood sample taken was recorded as a procedure. These animals were not euthanised as part of the procedures. The number of procedures quoted above therefore overestimates the number of animals involved.I hope that this information is helpful.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what species and breeds of animals have been subjected to experiments in each of the last five years at Porton Down. [50638]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 July 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your letter about the species and breeds of animals used in experiments at Porton Down in each of the last five years.The species of animals used at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down during the last five years (1993 to 1997), together with breeds commonly used, are shown in the table below:
Species Breeds commonly used at CBD Goat1 Guinea-pig Dunken Hartley Hamster2 Syrian Horse3 Macaque4 Rhesus Marmoset Common Mouse Porton mouse, BALB/C, hybrids Pig Large White Rabbit New Zealand White, Dutch Belted Rat Porton Wistar Sheep Mules, cross breeds 11997 only 21996 and 1997 31993 only 41993, 1996 and 1997 I hope that this information is helpful.565W
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals have been subjected to experiments at Porton Down in each of the last five years. [50636]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 July 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of animals involved in experiments in each of the last five years.The number of procedures conducted during each calendar year at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down since 1993 are shown in the table below:
Year Number of procedures 1993 6,697 1994 7,416 1995 8,747 1996 11,097 1997 10,956 Total 44,913 In 1990, a revision to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 required the number of procedures to be recorded rather than the number of animals involved. In most cases, the number of procedures equates to the number of animals. However, in some cases more than one procedure was carried out on a single animal. For example, during the last five years, a few horses and sheep were used to produce blood products and every blood sample taken was recorded as a procedure. These animals were not euthanised as part of the procedures. The number of procedures quoted above therefore overestimates the number of animals involved.