HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 c827W
Mr. Wood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength is of British armed forces in Afghanistan. [93146]

Mr. Ingram

The United Kingdom contributes around 300 United Kingdom Service personnel to the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul.

Year
Primary purpose 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Fundamental biological research 6,052 6,702 7,265 7,193 7,074
Applied studies—human medicine 4,763 4,199 4,147 4,641 5,674
Protection of man, animals or environment by toxicological
or other safety or environmental evaluation1 0 0 9 0 108
Education 2 3 7 3 0
Training 2 0 0 2 0
Direct diagnosis 137 187 73 146 99
Total 10,956 11,091 11,501 11,985 12,955
1Excluding medical or veterinary products or appliances

In the years 1997 to 2001 the annual returns to the Home Office, broken down by species are detailed below:

Species 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Guinea pig 1,109 1,039 636 636 727
Ferret 0 30 0 0 0
Hamster 396 222 144 24 0
Mouse 8,569 7,477 10,144 10,856 11,944
Pig 85 96 84 106 23
Rabbit 31 48 10 19 23
Rat 717 1,999 410 350 125
Goat 2 22 0 0 0
Sheep 17 30 13 9 45
Primate 30 128 60 34 68
Total 10,956 11,091 11,501 11,985 12,955

The figures for 2002 are expected to be available in late February.