Porton Down animal experiments soar under Labour

Mr Mike Hancock ( Lib Dem : Portsmouth South):To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many animals have been used in experiments at Porton Down in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) breed and (b) procedures carried out. (PQ No. 66421) 7th May 2006.

22 Jul 1998 : Hansard Column: 564
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the animals subjected

to experiments at Porton Down in each of the last five years died as a result of the experiments; and what happened to those animals that did not die.

A total of 44,913 procedures were carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down over the last five years. At the end the majority of the experiments, surviving animals were killed humanely using an approved method as specified in the project licence issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Information on the number of procedures resulting in the deaths of animals is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.


Breeds commonly used at CBD Goat(15) ,Guinea-pig -D unken Hartley, Hamster(16) Syrian,
Horse(17), Macaque(18), Rhesus, Marmoset,Common Mouse-Porton mouse, BALB/C, hybrids. Pig , Large White Rabbit - New Zealand White/ Dutch Belted, Rat - Porton Wistar
Sheep - Mules, cross breeds

The number of procedures conducted during each calendar year at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down since 1993 are shown in the table below:

Year Number of procedures
1993 6,697
1994 7,416
1995 8,747
1996 11,097
1997 10,956
Total 44,913 Avg 8,982

Mr Hancock asked the same question again in January PQ 66421 so we can add.

2000 11,985
2001 12,955
2002 15,940
2003 13,899
2004 15,728
2005 21,118
Total 91,625 Avg 15,270 = 70% increase

Mike Hancock, said he was "horrified" and pledged to table more questions seeking precise details of the tests and asking if any research was being undertaken for foreign governments.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a campaign group, Have a sexy pic of Pammy Anderson seeking your signature to protect seals on their website but restrict their reported comment to, "Animals don't wage wars; why should they be made to suffer because humans do?" , "Most people would be horrified to know that their tax money is being used to fund these wasteful and cruel experiments." Perhaps we could ask them to retain the services of Jordan, or Atmoc Pussy to protect the anmials of Porton Down ?

But Adam Ingram, dour Scot, isists the tests are only carried when there is no alternative.

"Porton Down only undertakes research involving the use of animals when other 'in vitro', physical and computer modelling methods are unsuitable," He added that all military testing follows the widespread scientific principles of trying to refine, reduce and replace animal tests wherever possible.

In 1994, some Labour Party spokesmen suggested the party in government would forbid the use of animals in the testing and development of weapons. Current research at Porton is the study of MRSA and Anthrax. The facility produces a high efficacy anthrax vaccine which is sold throughout the world.

Ever since Labour came to office in 1997, such testing has increased. Porton Down has experimented on more than 100,000 animals since 1997 claims the Scotsman.

From 1984-1992 Dr David Kelly Kelly was Head of Microbiology at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down. His dead body was found near his home in Oxfordshire.

Glenda Jackson MP called for Blair to resign over Kelly’s death. “Bullets should be bitten,” she said, and “the prime minister should really be reconsidering his position.”

Porton Down is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a noted Butterfly population including the Pictured rare(ish) Chalk Hill Blue. It was that or a picture of a Marmoset with electrodes in it's head.