HC Deb 04 July 1972 vol 840 cc117-9W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of experiments performed on animals in the latest year available.

Mr. Lane

The number was 5,580,876 in 1970.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were licensed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, to perform experiments in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

The number was 14,520 in 1970.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many premises were registered for experiments on animals in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

The number was 596 at 31st December, 1971.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals in the latest available year were performed without anaesthetics.

Mr. Lane

The number was 4,839,364 in 1970.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out in which the animal was allowed to recover from the influence of an anaesthetic and suffer whatever pain might follow, in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

None, so far as is known. In all experiments on conscious animals and those allowed to recover consciousness, the licensee is required to conform to the Pain Condition, which restricts the pain an animal may be permitted to suffer.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out under an aesthetic throughout, in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

The number was 162,480 in 1970.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out in the course of cancer research in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

The number was 361,283 in 1970.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out for cosmetic purposes in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

This information is not available.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out for the testing of drugs in the latest available year.

Mr. Lane

1,473,225 experiments in 1970 were mandatory tests for the standardisation of sera, vaccines or drugs.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown of the figures of experiments on animals carried out in the latest available year; and if he will show the animals involved.

Mr. Lane

Details of the experiments performed in 1970 are shown in the Return of Experiments on Living Animals which was presented to Parliament on 29th July, 1971. Details of the number and species of animals used are not available.