§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for project licences have been refused under section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 on the ground that the benefits likely to accrue as a result of the programme of research are not sufficient to outweigh the adverse effects on the animals concerned. [32812]
§ Mr. Sackville[holding answer 17 June 1996]: Statistics are not kept.
Project proposals which cannot be justified are almost always withdrawn by the applicant when challenged by the animals (scientific procedures) inspectorate. This precedes the formal application process and refusal is, therefore, necessary on only a small number of occasions.