§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments were conducted on each species of animal designated as protected under the Cruelty to Animals Act in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many applications were made to experiment with each such species in each year; and how many applications were refused.
§ Mr. MellorInformation on the number of experiments on living animals subject to the provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 which were started in the years 1980 to 1984 is given, by species of animal, in table 14 of the "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1984" (Cmnd. 9574). Applications for licences and certificates are not made for specific experiments as such and information is not available as to the numbers of applications for authority to carry out experiments on particular species, nor as to the numbers refused.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the passaging of tumours between experimental animals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe maintenance and passage of tumours for scientific purposes is not subject to any form of control under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; but under the Animals (Scientifc Procedures) Bill now in another place these procedures will require the consent of my right hon. Friend. The passaging of tumours, where justified, will be permitted under the authority of an appropriate personal and project licence, and subject to such conditions as my right hon. Friend may impose. All personal licences will include a condition requiring the immediate, humane killing of any animal found to be suffering severe pain or severe distress which cannot be alleviated.