§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for licences to experiment on live animals were received by the Home Office in the latest available full year; how many were granted; and how many refused.
§ Mr. Carlisle2,961 licences were granted in 1970. Records are not maintained of the number of licence applications received by the Home Office or the number of refusals.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for certificates to experiment on live animals without anaesthetics were received in the latest available full year; how many certificates were granted; and how many refused.
§ Mr. CarlisleI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations he made to ensure that all the 333W experiments permitted under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876 during the latest available full year were performed according to the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Act.
§ Mr. CarlisleAll applicants for licences and certificates under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, are required to state on their application forms the manner in which the experiments may be of service in advancing by new discovery physiological knowledge or knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering. Home Office Inspectors make spot checks to verify that permitted experiments are undertaken with a view to these purposes.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, were performed in the latest available full year for cosmetic tests, development of war weapons, demonstrations of known scientific phenomena to students, and confirmation of discoveries made by other methods.
§ Mr. CarlisleIn the course of 1969, 10,200 experiments were performed in illustration of lectures in medical schools, hospitals and elsewhere. The information requested in the other parts of the Question is not available.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on live animals performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876 in the latest available full year were witnessed from start to finish by the Home Office inspectors.
§ Mr. CarlisleThis information is not immediately available and I shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual animals were used in the 5,418,928 experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, during the latest available full year.
§ Mr. CarlisleDetails of the number of animals used are not available.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures 334W his Department take to ensure that laboratory animal houses do not unwittingly buy animals which have been stolen or obtained by false pretences.
§ Mr. CarlisleLaboratory authorities are free to obtain their animals by any legitimate means and my right hon. Friend has no statutory responsibility in the matter of the supply of animals for experimental purposes. It is an offence to receive stolen animals; laboratory authorities are aware of the need to ensure that the supplies they acquire have been properly obtained.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the purpose of the visits by inspectors to 163 premises not included on the register of pemises licensed to perform experiments on animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.
§ Mr. CarlisleTo inspect premises prior to registration and to discuss other matters relevant to the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.