Goats (Experimentation) (Hansard, 2 December 1999)

§ Mr. Kilfoyle

This 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 2 December 1999: I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of goats killed as a result of experiments in the last six months by the Ministry of Defence. 286W As I explained in my letter of 14 April 1999 the total number of goats killed in 1999 will be higher than in recent years. In addition to the on-going submarine escape programme carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, DERA is also taking part in a 3 year co-operative programme with the United States Navy looking at safe rescue from submarines. The conditions of this co-operative research will result in a higher number of animals humanely killed for the 3 years of the programme's duration. In addition, a restocking programme has taken place as many of the goats were getting old and, on veterinary advice, these have also been humanely killed. In view of these factors, it may be misleading to provide figures for the last six months and I will, therefore, address the period from 1 January 1999. From 1 January to 29 November 1999, 62 goats were humanely killed following experiments, 36 were humanely killed for reasons of old age and another 4 on grounds of ill health. The Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 assumes that all experiments cause stress to the animals involved and it is therefore normal practice to humanely kill the animals at the end of the experiment. Only where the experiment is considered sufficiently benign for the animals not to suffer any long lasting stress do the terms of the Act, subject to Home Office review, allow them to be used on more than one occasion. This is usually the case with the goats used in the submarine research programme. I hope this is helpful.