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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 (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; and how many of each year's total were subsequently killed without being so used. [89453] Mr. Spellar: [holding answer 5 July 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 6 July 1999: I have been asked to reply to your question about the numbers of animals bred at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down for use in research and the numbers culled without use. These numbers for the financial years 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 are given in the table below. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Species of animal bred 1997-98 1998-99 Mice Weaned 5,656 3,232 Surplus cull 4,468 2,603 Rats Weaned 7,235 4,555 Surplus cull 4,055 3,851 Marmosets Weaned 116 154 Surplus cull 0 0 Rhesus Weaned 42 46 Surplus cull 0 0 Pigs Weaned 44 85 Market sales 18 7 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. In 1998-99, 2,375 of the culled mice and 3,080 of the culled rats were given to two local bird sanctuaries. I hope that this information answers your question.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

89453; 334 c431W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Death Animals Animal breeding Animal experiments Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Porton Down (Wiltshire)

Contains statistics

Yes