Written question asked by Ken Livingstone (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 December 1996. It was answered by Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 December 1996 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: By what mechanisms the unclassified versions of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's substantive reports are made public; and if he will assess the advantages of making public the annual reports and minutes of the independent ethics committee of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in the same way. - Inc ref to 263 c1162W.

Answer: Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what mechanisms the unclassified versions of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's substantive reports are made public; and if he will assess the advantages of making public the annual reports and minutes of the independent ethics committee of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in the same way. [6929] Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department's Chief Scientific Adviser awaits the initial report from the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, which is expected to be delivered before the end of the year. The precise mechanism by which this will subsequently be published has not yet been decided. As regards the publication of the annual reports and minutes of the ethics committee for Porton Down, the position remains as given in my reply to the hon. Member of 18 July 1995, Official Report, column 1162.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6929; 286 c730W;286 c728W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Disclosure of information Animal welfare Chemical and biological warfare Annual reports Animal experiments Animal Welfare Advisory Committee Independent Ethics Committee