§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2004,Official Report, column 539W, on experiments on non-human primates, if he will list the primate type and number of primates used in each experiment; when each experiment was conducted; and what was done with the primates on the completion of each experiment. [175145]
§ Mr. IngramIn 2001, Dstl Porton Down used eight Rhesus Macques to help assess the effects and significance of human exposure to nerve agents. 1695W Additionally, other studies that did not involve testing the effects of weapons have been conducted with non-human primates. The following table lists all of the studies undertaken at Dstl Porton Down which have involved the use of non-human primates. These studies
Study 2001 2002 2003 Effects and significance of exposure to nerve agents 8 Rhesus — — Gulf War vaccine interactions programme 54 Marmosets 4 Marmosets — Development of medical countermeasures — 12 Rhesus 7 Marmosets 6 Marmosets Provision of blood/tissue samples for in-vitro studies. 2 Rhesus 10 Rhesus 11 Rhesus 4 Marmosets 10 Marmosets 5 Marmosets The majority of the animals were killed humanely at the completion of the studies using Schedule 1 procedures in accordance with the Home Office guidelines. The remainder of animals from which only small blood samples had been taken were returned to their respective breeding colonies. The numbers of procedures involving non-human primates are included in the Dstl annual return to the Home Office.