HC Deb 27 February 1991 vol 186 cc498-9W
130. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of premises registered to conduct experiments or scientific procedures involving living animals in each year since 1987.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a question from the hon. and learned Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 20 February at column173.

131. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to publish on an annual basis a breakdown of severity details on individual procedures carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Mrs. Rumbold

No.

137. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the design and size of cages used to house non-human primates utilised in scientific experiments.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Home Office "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures" (1989; HC107) contains recommendations on a wide range of animal welfare matters. Paragraphs 3.43 to 3.59 of the code of practice cover special considerations for the housing and care of non-human primates. Part 2 of t he code of practice sets out recommended cage dimensions for non-human primates.

Where an establishment's facilities do not fully comply with the code of practice, it is required to establish a programme for improvement with the agreement of the Home Office inspectorate, in accordance with paragraph 1.13 of the code of practice.

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been allocated by his Department in each year since 1986 to reduce, refine or replace the use of animals in scientific experiments; how many applications there have been from individuals or organisations wishing to take advantage of this funding in each year; and how many research projects were funded in each year.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Home Office receives a number of applications each year for funding research into ways of reducing, refining or replacing the use of living animals in scientific procedures. Details of projects funded by the Home Office and of the grants awarded were given in the reply to a question from the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 28 November 1990 at columns 416–17.

The Home Office plans to make £215,000 available in 1991–92 for its research scheme. The Animal Procedures Committee, which administers the scheme on behalf of the Home Office, is currently seeking worthwhile projects for funding.

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to prohibit scientific experiments on non-human primates which involve the removal of kidneys from the animals concerned.

Mrs. Rumbold

No. In the only such case which has arisen, my right hon. Friend accepted the advice of the Animal Procedures Committee, reported in paragraphs 4.15 and 4.16 of the Committee's annual report for 1988 (HC 458), and the project licence was grnted.