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Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

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. - Text of letter from Sir John Chisholm, Chief...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

29 June 1999

For answer on

6 July 1999

Answered on

6 July 1999

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.

Date

6 July 1999

Reference

89453; 334 c431W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many animals bred at Porton Down were sold for scientific use at other establishments for each year from 1990 to date, giving the species of animals and the establishments concerned. - Text of letter from John Chisholm of the Defence Evaluation...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 January 1998

For answer on

27 January 1998

Answered on

27 January 1998

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals bred at Porton Down were sold for scientific use at other establishments for each year from 1990 to date, giving the species of animals and the establishments concerned. [24829] Mr. Spellar: [holding answer 26 January 1998]: 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 27 January 1998: As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of animals bred at Porton Down and sold for scientific use at other establishments in each year since 1990. The number of animals bred at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down which were sold for scientific use at other establishments since 1990 are listed by species in the table below. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Financial year Porton mice Porton rats Common marmosets Rhesus 1990-91 620 230 156 17 1991-92 403 0 52 33 1992-93 450 0 18 28 1993-94 235 0 198 56 1994-95 200 0 0 60 1995-96 40 2 148 15 1996-97 0 0 95 21 1997-98 0 0 0 42 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Animals are only supplied to UK establishments designated for scientific procedures under section 6 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or to non-UK users who can provide evidence that they meet welfare standards that match or exceed those of the UK, and for approved purposes. Under exemptions 4e and 4f of the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, I am not prepared to reveal the names of scientific establishments to which DERA has sold animals. I hope this is helpful.

Date

27 January 1998

Reference

24829; 305 c187-8W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many project licence applications for animal procedures at Porton Down have been (a) approved unamended for submission to the Home Office, (b) approved in amended form for submission to the Home Office and (c) rejected for each year from 1990 to...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 January 1998

For answer on

26 January 1998

Answered on

26 January 1998

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many project licence applications for animal procedures at Porton Down have been (a) approved unamended for submission to the Home Office, (b) approved in amended form for submission to the Home Office and (c) rejected for each year from 1990 to date. [24832] Mr. Spellar: These are matters 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 26 January 1998: As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) I have been asked to reply to your question about the progress of project licence applications for animal procedures at Porton Down submitted to the Home Office in each year since 1990. DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down has had a formal, internal, ethical review process for all project licence applications since March 1995. Prior to that date the review process was conducted on a much less formal basis which was not documented. I can, therefore, only provide you with accurate details of the progress of licence applications, prior to submission to the Home Office, since 1995. Each project licence application is submitted to an internal, peer group, ethical review meeting which is open to all members of staff. After hearing the licence application details the staff discuss both scientific and ethical issues. The review can result in an application being held over subject to revisions being made, approved without further amendment for submission to the Home Office or it is possible that a licence application could be completely rejected. Since the internal ethical process was formalised in 1995, no applications have been totally rejected prior to submission to the Home Office, but all have been amended to a greater or lesser extent. The table below shows the number of project licence applications submitted to the Home Office since March 1995. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number of applications 1995 6 1996 11 1997 13 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. I hope this is helpful.

Date

26 January 1998

Reference

305 c32W; 24832

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are applied to procedures carried out at Porton Down. - Inc text of letter from John Chisholm of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

22961; 304 c413W;304 c409W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent he shares information obtained from animal experimentation at Porton Down with other members of NATO; and to what extent he is provided with information obtained from animal experimentation carried out in other NATO countries. - Inc text of letter...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

22968; 304 c414W;304 c410W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that animal experiments undertaken at Porton Down do not breach the terms of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 in respect of the deliberate infliction of wanton physical cruelty. - Inc text of letter from...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

22964; 304 c414W;304 c410W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what external procedures exist to ensure that animals held at Porton Down are allowed so far as possible to follow normal behaviour patterns and that they are properly looked after. - In Library. Inc text of letter from John Chisholm of the...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

12 January 1998

For answer on

19 January 1998

Answered on

19 January 1998

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external procedures exist to ensure that animals held at Porton Down are allowed so far as possible to follow normal behaviour patterns and that the are properly looked after. [22966] 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: As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), I have been asked to reply to your question about the way in which animals are cared for at Porton Down. All work and housing involving animals at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down are conducted strictly in accordance with the Home Office guidelines on the care and use of animals as defined within the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which is administered by the Home Office. CBS adheres to and expands upon existing Home Office codes of practice and guidelines for the care and housing of animals involved in scientific procedures. There is an on-going programme of environmental enrichment for all species. In particular, CBD Porton has an established track record of innovative approaches to the housing of non-human primates used in scientific procedures. Inspectors from the Home Office make both announced and unannounced visits to CBD Porton and have full access to all CBD animal facilities. As part of the Act the establishment must have a named veterinary surgeon and named animal care and welfare officers. At CBD these officers have formed and internal Animal Care and Use committee. The welfare of the animals is of paramount importance to Porton Down which has a world wide reputation for its excellent standards of husbandry and breeding of laboratory animals. In addition to the statutory controls in place, the Ministry of Defence has established an independent animal welfare committee-- Animal Welfare Advisory Committee--which reviews the arrangements for animal care and welfare at sites within DERA carrying out work with animals, and advises on best practice. The reports from this independent committee are made to the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence and are published in the House of Commons Library. I hope this is helpful.

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

304 c413W;304 c409W; 22966

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

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. - Inc text of letter from...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

12 January 1998

For answer on

19 January 1998

Answered on

19 January 1998

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.

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

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

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures he is taking to introduce alternatives to animal experimentation at Porton Down; and if he will list the initiatives in this area since 1995. - Inc text of letter from John Chisholm of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

12 January 1998

For answer on

19 January 1998

Answered on

19 January 1998

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to introduce alternatives to animal experimentation at Porton Down; and if he will list the initiatives in this area since 1995. [22962] 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 January 1998: As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) I have been asked to reply to your question about the introduction of alternatives to animal experimentation at Porton Down. The use of alternatives to living animals has always been a priority in designing and executing research programmes to address the MOD's requirements. Alternatives must be fully considered when drawing up a project licence application. At CBD each project licence application is subjected to an internal peer group ethical review. The meeting is open to all members of staff, the details of the licence application are briefly presented and then the meeting is open to debate on both scientific and ethical concerns. One of the major aims is to ensure that the `3Rs' have been addressed, i.e., Reduction, Replacement and Refinement. The review can result in an application being completely rejected, held over subject to improvements being made or approved for submission to the Home Office. The review procedure is in line with the outcome of a Home Office Supplementary Note `Interim report on the review of operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986' dated 6 November 1997 which emphasises the requirement that applicants for new project licences must demonstrate that they have sought alternatives before the use of animals is proposed. With respect to initiatives since 1995, a new in vitro toxicology laboratory has been commissioned at CBD Porton. The use of in-vitro cell and tissue culture models allows innovative research to identify novel medical countermeasures and examine the potential hazards and the mechanism of action of chemical and non-chemical agents. Similar models are also used in research to investigate treatment regimes and prospective protective and decontaminating compounds for use in a chemical warfare environment. Experiments using animals have also been essential for advances in the surgical management of injury. Another recent initiative has been the development of a variety of model systems for studies on the protection of personnel from physical injury and the identification of injury mechanisms. The model systems can be grouped under three headings; animal cadaveric tissue; physical models; and computer models. They have either reduced or entirely replaced the use of living animals. I hope this is helpful.

Date

19 January 1998

Reference

22962; 304 c411-3W;304 c407-9W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which countries the DERA has been involved in collaborative research involving animals in the last 10 years. - Inc text of letter from J Chisholm of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.

Asked by

Paul Flynn (Labour)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 December 1997

Reference

20511; 303 c278W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many animals were used in experiments carried out at Porton Down in each year since 1967 (a) in total, (b) by species and (c) by category of experiments. - Text of letter from John Chisholm of the Defence Evaluation and Research...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

24 November 1997

For answer on

2 December 1997

Answered on

2 December 1997

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals were used in experiments carried out at Porton Down in each year since 1967 (a) in total, (b) by species and (c) by category of experiments. [17919] Mr. Spellar: [holding answer 28 November 1997]: 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 2 December 1997: As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which has responsibility for the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) Sector at Porton Down, I have been asked to respond to your question about animal experiments. CBD Sector has attempted to locate all of the information which you have requested. However, during the period from 1967 to 1980, records on the numbers and species of animals used for experimental work were returned to the Home Office by the individual Home Office project licence holders, and were not collated centrally. The information for this period could, therefore, only be provided at disproportionate cost. We can, however, provide data on the numbers and species of animals involved in experiments from 1980 to 1996, shown in the table below. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Dog Guinea Hamste Horse Mouse Pig Rabbit Rat Goat Sheep Cattle Chick Non- {1}Oth Total Pig r human er primat e 1980 49 8,012 0 0 5,318 74 469 3,619 0 28 0 0 199 3 17,771 1981 90 7,078 0 0 7,916 90 207 1,670 0 20 0 0 137 15 17,223 1982 193 7,718 0 0 3,783 71 204 1,107 0 28 0 0 145 181 13,430 1983 167 6,488 0 0 952 75 135 1,249 0 71 0 0 186 148 9,471 1984 99 4,833 0 0 2,530 93 172 2,529 0 100 0 0 277 274 10,907 1985 57 2,007 0 0 2,098 55 186 1,760 0 105 0 0 269 40 6,577 1986 31 598 0 0 1,461 40 282 3,690 0 47 0 0 249 0 6,398 1987 8 393 0 7 1,719 25 239 5,602 0 186 0 0 117 11 8,307 1988 0 1,024 0 1 962 11 194 5,681 0 87 1 0 164 6 8,131 1989 4 804 0 0 1,570 54 151 6,275 0 92 1 0 64 2 9,017 1990 0 670 0 50 2,070 86 126 4,827 70 113 0 1 80 0 8,093 1991 0 306 0 46 1,148 102 133 4,190 0 120 1 2 31 0 6,079 1992 0 231 0 44 1,319 132 132 2,472 0 105 0 1 72 0 4,506 1993 0 354 0 16 3,069 109 136 2,907 0 70 0 0 36 0 6,697 1994 0 364 0 0 4,946 102 16 1,898 0 73 0 0 17 0 7,416 1995 0 495 0 0 6,706 48 39 1,406 0 36 0 0 17 0 8,747 1996 0 792 42 0 7,701 48 19 2,428 0 53 0 0 14 0 11,097 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Includes animals not normally returned as species, e.g. ferrets and gerbils. Note: Numbers of procedures carried out on animals from 1980 to 1996, by species and year, as returned to the Home Office by CBD Sector. The current legislative requirements governing the use of animals in scientific experiments, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, came into effect in 1986. Prior to this date all non-human primates were returned to the Home Office as "monkeys". Therefore, for the period 1986-96, we have incorporated the figures for Rhesus monkeys and marmosets into "non-human primates" for comparative purposes. As far as the categories of experiments are concerned, it is the auspices of this Act that the categories are defined on individual project licences; prior to 1986 they were classified in a different manner. The Home Office does not require the numbers of procedures returned annually to be related to the categories stated on individual project licences. We do not, therefore, have these figures readily available and this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. I hope that the information we have been able to provide is helpful.

Date

2 December 1997

Reference

17919; 302 c174-5W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many procedures resulting in the deaths of animals carried out (a) at Porton Down and (b) elsewhere in the last five years were undertaken on behalf of (i) other countries and (ii) other EU countries; how many procedures on animals carried...

Asked by

Paul Flynn (Labour)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 December 1997

Reference

302 c171-3W; 17618;17619;17617

House

House of Commons

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