Training Exercises (Denmark) (Hansard, 30 July 1998)

§ Dr. Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last training exercise involving the shooting of pigs in Denmark was carried out; why Denmark was chosen as the location; and if he has any plans to carry out similar exercises in the future. [45511]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
The last training exercise involving the shooting of pigs in which UK Service personnel took part was in May 1998. The pigs had been anaesthetised and the exercise was designed to train medical personnel in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating wounds inflicted by different calibre weapons. The exercise was organised by the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services and the UK, together with NATO allies and other nations, was invited to participate. However, Ministers in this Government had not previously had this training drawn to their attention, and so UK participation was immediately suspended pending a review of my Department's training methods.

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the(a) costs, (b) aims and (c) outcome of the Operation Danish Bacon NATO exercise. [45485]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
The costs of Exercise Danish Bacon are borne in the main by the organisers, the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services. The costs incurred by my Department have been the travel and subsistence of UK Service participants and the costs of the animals they used—£550 each. The Exercise is designed to train military medical personnel in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating those wounded by different calibre weapons. However, Ministers of this Government had not previously been made aware of this activity, and ordered its immediate suspension pending a review of this practice.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what level authorisation was given for the participation of British troops in animal experiments in Jaegerspris, Denmark. [45492]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 15 June 1998]: British troops do not participate in animal experiments in Denmark. UK military surgical teams have, however, participated in training exercises organised by the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services which involved the use of pigs that had been anaesthetised. The exercises provided training in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating wounds inflicted by different calibre weapons. Authorisation for British participation in these exercises came from senior military medical officers.
Ministers of this Government had not previously been made aware of this activity, and ordered its immediate suspension pending a review of this practice.
445W

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when British troops have participated in animal experiments abroad; and on which of these occasions such experiments would not have been permitted in the United Kingdom. [45494]

§ Dr. Reid
[holding answer 15 June 1998]: I am not aware of any participation by British troops in animal experiments either overseas or in the UK since 1 May 1997.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of the participation of British troops in experiments which involve firing high-velocity weapons at suspended pigs. [45493]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 15 June 1998]: British troops do not participate in animal experiments which involve firing weapons at pigs. However, UK military surgical teams have participated in training exercises organised by the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services which involved firing different calibre weapons at pigs. The purpose of the exercises was to provide training in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating wounds inflicted by such weapons. Ministers in this Government had not previously had this training drawn to their attention and therefore directed that UK participation be immediately suspended pending a review of this practice.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British Army training exercises involving the killing of animals; at which locations such training has taken place over the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [45768]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 15 June 1998]: Some courses or training exercises run by the British Army include instruction in survival techniques which involves the slaughter of live animals. This type of training has taken place in the UK, Europe and in countries such as Kenya, Brunei and Belize over the last 10 years. Training of Army Catering Corps personnel in butchery techniques has also involved the slaughter of live animals in the UK.
In addition, members of the UK Defence Medical Services have participated each year in exercises in Denmark organised by the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services. These exercises have involved the use of pigs to provide training in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating wounds inflicted by different calibre weapons. Ministers of this Government had not previously been made aware of this activity, and ordered its immediate suspension pending a review of this practice.

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the shooting of live pigs by British soldiers in Denmark. [46080]

§ Mr. Doug Henderson
UK military surgical teams have participated in training exercises organised by the Danish Armed Forces' Medical Services which involve Danish marksmen shooting different calibre weapons at pigs. The purpose of the exercises is to provide training in resuscitation and surgical techniques for treating wounds inflected by such weapons.
Ministers of this Government had not previously been made aware of this activity, and ordered its immediate suspension pending a review of this practice.
446W