§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new research his Department is undertaking in Porton Down on the effects of mustard gas on pigs; and how many pigs were involved in the testing of mustard gas in Government centres in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [138299]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has been undertaking research on behalf of the Ministry of Defence on the effects of mustard gas on pigs at its Chemical and Biological Defence laboratories at Porton Down as part of its studies into improved methods for the treatment of wounds on the battlefield.
Previous research studies to evaluate the technique of dermabrasion as a treatment for established mustard burns were completed at the end of September 1998. The results of this work have been published in the open technical literature. The current research programme is solely concerned with the evaluation of novel protective creams that have the potential to significantly reduce the severity of mustard burns to the skin following exposure.
The number of pigs that have been used in both phases of these studies for the years in question is as follows: two animals in 1997, six animals per year for 1998 and 1999, and a total of 10 animals in 2000 to the current date.