HC Deb 30 April 1991 vol 190 cc114-5W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy to remove the exemptions which are currently allowed as part of the January 1990 regulations to oblige laboratories to buy only specifically bred cats and dogs from registered suppliers.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Where animals of a species specified in schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which includes cats and dogs, are not obtainable from designated sources, requests to obtain such animals from non-designated sources will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie) of 11 March,Official Report, column 335, what evidence he has received from the Medical Research Council on alleged deliberate breaches of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

We received a number of documents on 16 April from the Medical Research Council and we are now considering them.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct inspectors not to allow any dispensation from the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, in the light of the Medical Research Council report on Professor Feldberg; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The Medical Research Council inquiry report alleged that a dispensation was agreed at the National Institute for Medical Research, with the approval of the Home Office inspector, which allowed Professor Feldberg and Mr. Stean to leave anaesthetised animals undergoing procedures unattended for short periods.

We have been assured by the director of NIMR that it was at the time and remains NIMR policy that under no circumstances must such animals be left unattended. The inspectorate did not give any dispensation to override these local instructions, nor would such a dispensation be given at any establishment.

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