HC Deb 16 July 2003 vol 409 c404W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 June 2003,Official Report, column 451W, on Porton Down, if he will provide information on specific breeds from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in a similar form to that supplied by the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in a letter to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South of 22 July 1998 (Ref DERA/SEC/S/1/255/98). [119161]

Mr. Caplin

As my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Moonie) indicated to the hon. Member in his response of 4 June 2003,Official Report, column 451W, more detailed information on the specific breeds used is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In general terms, the breeds of animals used in scientific procedures from 1997–2002 are as follows:

Breeds of animals used in scientific procedures 1997–2002
Species Breeds commonly used at DSTL Porton Down.
Mouse Mainly BALB/C, also Porton mouse, hybrids
Pig Large White Cross
Sheep Polled Dorset 2000 and 2001, previously mules and cross breeds
Rat Porton Wistar
Macaque Rhesus
Marmoset Common
Goat No one particular breed
Guinea pig Dunkin Hartley
Hamster Syrian
Rabbit Now all New Zealand White, previously also Dutch belted.