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Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many procedures have been carried out on animals at Porton Down since 1997; and what breeds of animals were involved. [115585]
Dr. Moonie
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down submits annual returns to the Home Office detailing the number of procedures undertaken which involve the use of animals as defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.In the years 1997 to 2002 the annual returns to the Home Office, broken down by species, are detailed in the table.
1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
Guinea pig | 1,109 | 1,039 | 636 | 636 | 727 | 644 |
Ferret | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hamster | 396 | 222 | 144 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
Mouse | 8,569 | 7,477 | 10,144 | 10,856 | 11,944 | 14,874 |
Pig | 85 | 96 | 84 | 106 | 23 | 88 |
Rabbit | 31 | 48 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 24 |
Rat | 717 | 1,999 | 410 | 350 | 125 | 268 |
Goat | 2 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sheep | 17 | 30 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 0 |
Primate | 30 | 128 | 60 | 34 | 68 | 42 |
Total | 10,956 | 11,091 | 11,501 | 11,985 | 12,955 | 15,940 |