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1673645

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Israel: Military Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 2667 on Israel: Military Aid, whether any (a) lethal and (b) other military equipment other than medical supplies has been provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	4277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Since 7 October 2023, the UK <ins class="ministerial">Government</ins> has provided no lethal or military equipment other than medical supplies to Israel.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 04/12/2023 14:47:11 question first ministerially corrected 12/12/2023 17:12:17 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey previous answer version 4903 answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1467649

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Deployment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's personnel are deployed around the world; and in which locations those people are stationed.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	13255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2022 answer text <p>The following table details the number of personnel deployed overseas on operations and their location. The numbers change depending on operational requirements, but are accurate at the time of answering the hon. Member's question.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Location </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of UK military deployed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of civilians deployed</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total number of military and civilians deployed </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Egypt</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Montrose</p></td><td><p>180</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>182</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Penzance</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>41</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Chiddingfold</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>45</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>RFACardigan Bay</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Middleton</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>45</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Bangor</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Trent</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Spey</p></td><td><p>46</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>46</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HMS Tamar</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>AbuDhabi (British Embassy)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bahrain</p></td><td><p>188</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>190</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>214</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>220</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oman</p></td><td><p>18</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Qatar</p></td><td><p>132</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>132</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UAE</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>110</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>USA</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Baghdad(British Embassy)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iraq</p></td><td><p>189</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jordan</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kuwait</p></td><td><p>51</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>54</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>TelAviv(British Embassy)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Saudi Arabia</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Azerbaijan</p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1</del> <ins class="ministerial">0</ins></p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1</del> <ins class="ministerial">0</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pakistan(British High Commission)</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pakistan</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gibraltar</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mali</p></td><td><p>464</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>469</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Democratic Republic of Congo</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kenya</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Somalia</p></td><td><p>69</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Djibouti</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tunisia(British Embassy)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Chad</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nigeria</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>27</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Sudan</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>1,372</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>1,386</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>81</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>83</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>89</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>89</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>414</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>417</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bosnia</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kosovo</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>41</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ukraine</p></td><td><p>97</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>97</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>197</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>198</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North Macedonia</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>43</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Japan</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Indonesia</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kuala Lumpur</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lebanon (British Embassy)</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ghana</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>25</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 09/06/2022 11:55:20 question first ministerially corrected 30/06/2022 16:41:51 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey previous answer version 5196 answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1418613

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Antitank Missiles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the risk that the Ukraine defence forces might use UK-supplied anti-tank weapons against civilian targets in the Donbas region of that country.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	116065
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>As with all of our military assistance to Ukraine, the risks associated with training the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the use of these weapons was conducted under the Government's Overseas Justice and Security Assistance guidance. All gifts of UK Government-owned licensable military equipment to an Overseas Government are assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and require an end user undertaking before handing over to recipients.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 07/02/2022 15:15:12 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey previous answer version 48998 answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1453013

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) size and (b) location of Azov territorial defence units in Ukraine.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	143803
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2022 answer text <p>As of 23 March 2022, the size of the Azov Battalion is estimated to be 1,000 personnel, based on open-source reporting.</p><p>The Azov Battalion is a component of the Ukrainian National Guard, and part of its Eastern Operational Territorial Command; its primary area of responsibility being Mariupol.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 25/03/2022 12:42:11 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey previous answer version 60275 answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1454871

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2022 to Question 143803 on Ukraine: Armed Forces, what assessment he has made of (a) size and (b) location of the new new territorial defence units reported to have been set up or inspired by the Azov battalion and situated beyond Mariupol.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	148398
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2022 answer text <p>The size of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces is estimated to be 10,000 military professionals supplemented by 130,000 reservists. Since Russia's invasion, Ukraine has sought to expand these forces to include 1.5 - 2 million citizens.</p><p>The Territorial Defence Forces are distributed around each of Ukraine's regions and in Kyiv. Some units may have worked with the Azov Battalion in and around the Mariupol region to recruit and train volunteers.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 01/04/2022 10:05:32 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey previous answer version 61862 answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1187798

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the severity of experiments conducted on live animals at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	35052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2020 answer text <p>Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments and is proactive in developing alternatives. The “three Rs” of ‘reduce’ (the number of animals used), ‘refine’ (animal procedures) and ‘replace’ (animal experiments with non-animal alternatives) are integral to its research programme.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl currently uses non-animal physical models, computer models and in-vitro methods. For example, computer models are being used to model pressure waves in the head from the impact of blunt projectiles. Dstl scientists have developed invertebrate animal models using wax moth larvae that are used to screen novel antibiotics, and a replacement for animals in the form of a mechanical rig that represents the human chest and is used to assess protective equipment worn by the military.</p><p> </p><p>For the period 2018, a total of 586 regulated procedures were classified as severe based on the actual severity experienced by the animals.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of marmosets in the Dstl breeding programme is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body.</p><p> </p><p>While adult marmosets can live for a period of time in compatible same-sex social groups, the normal long term social group for mature adult marmosets is a male-female pairing. Removing female marmosets and rehoming them is not, therefore, a suitable strategy for the breeding programme, for the scientific research programme, or in the interests of optimal animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl is committed to refining regulated procedures to reduce the overall number of severe procedures in animals. A procedure is retrospectively classed as “severe” if animals experience severe illness or die. As Dstl uses animals in experiments to develop new vaccines, therapies and treatments to protect against severe illness and death in humans, some severe procedures are still required. This is part of ensuring that the procedures provide a valid model of the human disease.</p><p> </p><p>No projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at Dstl received grants during the latest period (2019). Where Dstl works with foreign governments, this is on a contract not grant basis, ensuring that the specifics of the work to be done are clearly stated, along with the associated legal obligations on both parties.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 35053 35054 35055 35056 question first answered 23/04/2020 10:13:36 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1187799

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many live animal procedures conducted at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down were classified as severe in 2018.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	35053
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2020 answer text <p>Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments and is proactive in developing alternatives. The “three Rs” of ‘reduce’ (the number of animals used), ‘refine’ (animal procedures) and ‘replace’ (animal experiments with non-animal alternatives) are integral to its research programme.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl currently uses non-animal physical models, computer models and in-vitro methods. For example, computer models are being used to model pressure waves in the head from the impact of blunt projectiles. Dstl scientists have developed invertebrate animal models using wax moth larvae that are used to screen novel antibiotics, and a replacement for animals in the form of a mechanical rig that represents the human chest and is used to assess protective equipment worn by the military.</p><p> </p><p>For the period 2018, a total of 586 regulated procedures were classified as severe based on the actual severity experienced by the animals.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of marmosets in the Dstl breeding programme is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body.</p><p> </p><p>While adult marmosets can live for a period of time in compatible same-sex social groups, the normal long term social group for mature adult marmosets is a male-female pairing. Removing female marmosets and rehoming them is not, therefore, a suitable strategy for the breeding programme, for the scientific research programme, or in the interests of optimal animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl is committed to refining regulated procedures to reduce the overall number of severe procedures in animals. A procedure is retrospectively classed as “severe” if animals experience severe illness or die. As Dstl uses animals in experiments to develop new vaccines, therapies and treatments to protect against severe illness and death in humans, some severe procedures are still required. This is part of ensuring that the procedures provide a valid model of the human disease.</p><p> </p><p>No projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at Dstl received grants during the latest period (2019). Where Dstl works with foreign governments, this is on a contract not grant basis, ensuring that the specifics of the work to be done are clearly stated, along with the associated legal obligations on both parties.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 35052 35054 35055 35056 question first answered 23/04/2020 10:13:37 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1187802

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the female marmosets from litters in the breeding programme for that animal at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, and re-homing them to animal sanctuaries.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	35054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2020 answer text <p>Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments and is proactive in developing alternatives. The “three Rs” of ‘reduce’ (the number of animals used), ‘refine’ (animal procedures) and ‘replace’ (animal experiments with non-animal alternatives) are integral to its research programme.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl currently uses non-animal physical models, computer models and in-vitro methods. For example, computer models are being used to model pressure waves in the head from the impact of blunt projectiles. Dstl scientists have developed invertebrate animal models using wax moth larvae that are used to screen novel antibiotics, and a replacement for animals in the form of a mechanical rig that represents the human chest and is used to assess protective equipment worn by the military.</p><p> </p><p>For the period 2018, a total of 586 regulated procedures were classified as severe based on the actual severity experienced by the animals.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of marmosets in the Dstl breeding programme is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body.</p><p> </p><p>While adult marmosets can live for a period of time in compatible same-sex social groups, the normal long term social group for mature adult marmosets is a male-female pairing. Removing female marmosets and rehoming them is not, therefore, a suitable strategy for the breeding programme, for the scientific research programme, or in the interests of optimal animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl is committed to refining regulated procedures to reduce the overall number of severe procedures in animals. A procedure is retrospectively classed as “severe” if animals experience severe illness or die. As Dstl uses animals in experiments to develop new vaccines, therapies and treatments to protect against severe illness and death in humans, some severe procedures are still required. This is part of ensuring that the procedures provide a valid model of the human disease.</p><p> </p><p>No projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at Dstl received grants during the latest period (2019). Where Dstl works with foreign governments, this is on a contract not grant basis, ensuring that the specifics of the work to be done are clearly stated, along with the associated legal obligations on both parties.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 35052 35053 35055 35056 question first answered 23/04/2020 10:13:37 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1187804

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will end all severe experiments on live animals at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down by 2022.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	35055
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2020 answer text <p>Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments and is proactive in developing alternatives. The “three Rs” of ‘reduce’ (the number of animals used), ‘refine’ (animal procedures) and ‘replace’ (animal experiments with non-animal alternatives) are integral to its research programme.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl currently uses non-animal physical models, computer models and in-vitro methods. For example, computer models are being used to model pressure waves in the head from the impact of blunt projectiles. Dstl scientists have developed invertebrate animal models using wax moth larvae that are used to screen novel antibiotics, and a replacement for animals in the form of a mechanical rig that represents the human chest and is used to assess protective equipment worn by the military.</p><p> </p><p>For the period 2018, a total of 586 regulated procedures were classified as severe based on the actual severity experienced by the animals.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of marmosets in the Dstl breeding programme is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body.</p><p> </p><p>While adult marmosets can live for a period of time in compatible same-sex social groups, the normal long term social group for mature adult marmosets is a male-female pairing. Removing female marmosets and rehoming them is not, therefore, a suitable strategy for the breeding programme, for the scientific research programme, or in the interests of optimal animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl is committed to refining regulated procedures to reduce the overall number of severe procedures in animals. A procedure is retrospectively classed as “severe” if animals experience severe illness or die. As Dstl uses animals in experiments to develop new vaccines, therapies and treatments to protect against severe illness and death in humans, some severe procedures are still required. This is part of ensuring that the procedures provide a valid model of the human disease.</p><p> </p><p>No projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at Dstl received grants during the latest period (2019). Where Dstl works with foreign governments, this is on a contract not grant basis, ensuring that the specifics of the work to be done are clearly stated, along with the associated legal obligations on both parties.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 35052 35053 35054 35056 question first answered 23/04/2020 10:13:37 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1187806

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, received grants from foreign governments in the latest period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	35056
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2020 answer text <p>Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments and is proactive in developing alternatives. The “three Rs” of ‘reduce’ (the number of animals used), ‘refine’ (animal procedures) and ‘replace’ (animal experiments with non-animal alternatives) are integral to its research programme.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl currently uses non-animal physical models, computer models and in-vitro methods. For example, computer models are being used to model pressure waves in the head from the impact of blunt projectiles. Dstl scientists have developed invertebrate animal models using wax moth larvae that are used to screen novel antibiotics, and a replacement for animals in the form of a mechanical rig that represents the human chest and is used to assess protective equipment worn by the military.</p><p> </p><p>For the period 2018, a total of 586 regulated procedures were classified as severe based on the actual severity experienced by the animals.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of marmosets in the Dstl breeding programme is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body.</p><p> </p><p>While adult marmosets can live for a period of time in compatible same-sex social groups, the normal long term social group for mature adult marmosets is a male-female pairing. Removing female marmosets and rehoming them is not, therefore, a suitable strategy for the breeding programme, for the scientific research programme, or in the interests of optimal animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Dstl is committed to refining regulated procedures to reduce the overall number of severe procedures in animals. A procedure is retrospectively classed as “severe” if animals experience severe illness or die. As Dstl uses animals in experiments to develop new vaccines, therapies and treatments to protect against severe illness and death in humans, some severe procedures are still required. This is part of ensuring that the procedures provide a valid model of the human disease.</p><p> </p><p>No projects involving the use of live animals in scientific procedures at Dstl received grants during the latest period (2019). Where Dstl works with foreign governments, this is on a contract not grant basis, ensuring that the specifics of the work to be done are clearly stated, along with the associated legal obligations on both parties.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 35052 35053 35054 35055 question first answered 23/04/2020 10:13:37 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill