HC Deb 27 March 1990 vol 170 cc104-5W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personal licences were in force for(a) 1987, (b) 1988, and (c) 1989 under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; under what circumstances personal licences are revoked; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The latest available information, for 1987 and 1988, was published in the annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1988 (HC 458; p3). The figures for 1989 will be published in the committee's report for 1989. The most usual reason for revoking a licence is that the holder no longer requires it. The conditions attaching to personal licences and the circumstances in which they may be revoked are set out in "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986" (HC 182), published this year.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria he employs to determine whether animal experiments merit the granting of a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986;

(2) what steps he takes to establish whether alternative methods of testing exist before granting a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to refuse entirely applications for licences in any category of work. "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986" (HC 182 of 1990), published on 15 February, sets out the criteria he follows, in accordance with section 5 of the Act, in determining whether and on what terms to grant a project licence, including the consideration which has been given by the applicant to alternatives. The reports of the Animals Procedures Committee for 1988 (HC 498 of 1989) and 1987 (HC 36 of 1988) set out the advice of the committee, which my right hon. and learned Friend has gratefully accepted, on the consideration of applications for project licences for the testing of cosmetics. We look forward to receiving further advice from the committee on this subject.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reasons he ascribes to the increase in the number of experiments performed on animals in respect of safety tests for(a) environmental pollution, (b) substances used in agriculture, (c) substances used in industry, (d) substances used in the household, (e) food additives, (f) cosmetics and toiletries and (g) alcohol research between 1987 and 1988; what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of such animal experiments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

"Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 1988" (Cm 743) sets out the available information on the increases or decreases in the numbers of safety tests under different headings. "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986" (HC 182 of 1990) sets out the criteria which my right hon. and learned Friend follows in determining whether and under what conditions to grant a project licence.