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Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

Answer

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals have been bred for use in experiments at Porton Down in each year from 1990 to 1997 to date; and how many of each year's total were subsequently killed without being so used. [22965] Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 19 January 1998: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the number of animals bred and used in animal experimentation at Porton Down in each year from 1990 to 1997 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The animal species currently bred at Porton Down are Rhesus monkeys, common marmosets, Porton strain mice, Porton strain Wistar rats and Large White pigs. These colonies must be maintained at levels sufficient to protect the genetic base of the species and to supply all of DERA's requirements in terms of numbers, sex, age, weight, timing and quality. Table 1. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Mice Rats Marmoset Rhesus Pigs Weaned Issued Surplu Weaned Issued Surplu Weaned Issued Surplu Weaned Issued Surplu Weaned Issued Market s cull s cull s cull s cull sales 1990-91 4,800 1,468 3,056 13,596 5,314 9,348 227 104 0 39 19 0 54 46 20 1991-92 4,503 1,034 3,108 12,060 4,987 6,047 237 74 0 42 33 0 14 11 0 1992-93 4,886 857 3,710 11,663 2,797 7,677 221 72 0 44 40 0 69 48 10 1993-94 4,376 1,645 2,348 11,373 3,883 7,076 224 245 0 73 50 0 79 57 20 1994-95 10,669 3,867 5,959 9,009 2,499 7,188 202 12 94 59 37 0 61 52 15 1995-96 8,628 4,200 3,884 6,694 2,553 3,985 134 197 0 62 43 0 96 40 46 1996-97 8,412 3,225 4,690 5,716 3,138 2,072 129 149 0 49 38 0 81 45 29 1997-January 3,835 923 3,167 4,344 724 2,504 91 49 0 42 48 0 44 42 9 1998 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Table 1 shows the number of animals weaned by the breeding unit at CBD, the number of animals issued from the unit and the number of animals culled by the Unit. This information is shown for the financial (not calendar) year. The numbers of animals (mice, rats, marmosets and Rhesus) issued represent those for scientific use at CBD and sales of surplus animals for scientific use at other establishments; the number of animals retained for replenishment of breeding stock is not shown in this table. Surplus pigs are sent to the local market; the figures do, however, include a small number kept for breeding at CBD. The number of animals weaned is not necessarily equal to the total of the number issued and the number of surplus stock culled in any one year. The discrepancies may be due to the occurrence of natural deaths or to the fact that animals, especially the Rhesus monkeys and marmosets, may not be issued until they are between 12 and 24 months old. The number of rats and mice culled is high, but in line with commercial operation. This is due to stringent experimental requirements, such as the use of single sex or narrow weight ranges. However, with the exception of 1994-1995, no Rhesus monkeys or marmosets have been culled. The marmosets were culled due to a very low usage at CBD and an unexpected fall in demand elsewhere. Table 1 shows that the breeding of marmosets was, therefore, significantly reduced in subsequent years. I hope this information is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

304 c411-2W;304 c407-8W; 22965

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Abuse Animals Chemical and biological warfare Defence Animal experiments Research Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down (Wiltshire)

Contains statistics

Yes