§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals were moved between DERA and CAMR at Porton Down, Wiltshire in the last year for which figures are available. [138916]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 21 November 2000]: A small number of animals have been moved between DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down and its neighbour the Department of Health Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR).
The tables show the numbers of animals involved from 1995 to 1999:
Table 1: Numbers of animals moved from CBD to CAMR Species/year Number Rhesus monkeys 1997 14 Late 1996/early 1997 14 1996 12 Rats 1996 2 1995 40
Table 2: Numbers of animals moved from CAMR to CBD Species/year Number Mice 1999 28 1996 180 1995 60
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the animal procedures(a) being conducted at and (b) planned for the area known as Hard Target at Porton Down. [138915]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 21 November 2000]: DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down has not undertaken any procedures involving living animals at the site on the Porton Down Range known as Hard Target, and none are planned.
194WHowever, procedures under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been undertaken at another site on the Porton Range which is several hundred metres from Hard Target.
This research was undertaken on anaesthetised animals to validate physical models used to predict human vulnerability to explosions and the performance of candidate protection systems. Additionally, anaesthetised animals were also used to validate the performance of personal blast protection clothing to protect military personnel from the effects of explosions.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many genetically modified animals were used in procedures, broken down by species, at Porton Down in each year for the last five years. [138917]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 21 November 2000]: DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down uses only one genetically modified animal species, the mouse, in its research.
The table shows the numbers of genetically modified mice used in procedures, as reported to the Home Office, for the past five years.
Year Procedures 1995 120 1996 191 1997 75 1998 333 1999 259