HC Deb 27 February 1985 vol 74 cc167-8W
Mr. Greg Knight

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that his Department's inspectors carry out sufficient visits to premises where experiments on animals are carried out, especially those premises operated by the Royal College of Surgeons; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

Yes. The latest statistics show that in 1983 members of the Home Office Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate made 5,816 visits (mainly unannounced) to departments within the 508 places registered with the Home Office as premises where experiments on live animals could be carried out. ("Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals Great Britain 1983": Cmnd. 9311). The Royal College of Surgeons premises at Downe were visited twice in 1984 by an inspector.

Mr. Greg Knight

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections have been carried out by his Department's inspectors at premises where experimentation on animals has been carried out during the last five years; on how many of these occasions such inspections revealed a cause for complaint; and what action was then taken as a result thereof.

Mr. Mellor

The number of inspections carried out by the Home Office Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate over the past five years is given in table 24 of the "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals Great Britain 1983": (Cmnd. 9311). A copy is in the Library of the House. Reports compiled by inspectors on their visits are made in confidence to the Secretary of State. A summary of infringements of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 or of conditions of licences issued under the Act is given in the published statistics (paragraphs 12–16).

Mr. Greg Knight

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the number of visits carried out by his Department's inspectors to premises used by the Royal College of Surgeons for animal experimentations, in the light of their recent conviction for cruelty.

Mr. Mellor

The case did not concern an animal subject to these statutory controls; but I understand that the Royal College of Surgeons is to appeal against the conviction and it would therefore be improper for me to make any comment which might have a bearing on the case.