§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
532WAHow many primates, of the different species, have been imported into this country for research purposes, and from which countries, in the last three years for which the information is available.
§ Lord TREFGARNEThe Overseas Trade Statistics do not distinguish animals imported for research from those imported for other purposes, or between primates and other animals. Information derived by the Department of the Environment from the operation of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 provisionally indicates that a total of 3,017 primates were imported in the period 1976–1978. The majority of these is likely to have been for research, though the precise number is not known. Malaysia accounted for 66 per cent. of total imports, and Bolivia, Kenya, Indonesia, Senegal and Panama for another 29 per cent. The most prominent single species was Macaca fascicularis, which made up 71 per cent. of total imports, the bulk of which came from Malaysia.
House adjourned for the Whitsun Recess at a quarter-past one o'clock.