Skip to main content

Porton Down

Volume 406: debated on Wednesday 4 June 2003

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

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]

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.

199719981999200020012002
Guinea pig1,1091,039636636727644
Ferret0300000
Hamster3962221442400
Mouse8,5697,47710,14410,85611,94414,874
Pig8596841062388
Rabbit314810192324
Rat7171,999410350125268
Goat2220000
Sheep1730139450
Primate3012860346842
Total10,95611,09111,50111,98512,95515,940
More detailed information on the specific breeds used is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.