HC Deb 14 February 1992 vol 203 c669W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new project licences assessed as being of substantial severity were issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each year since the Act came into force.

Mrs. Rumbold

Project licences assessed as being of substantial severity account for a very small proportion of all project licences issued. More detailed information is contained in the annual reports of the animal procedures committee, copies of which are available in the Library.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new project licences authorising scientific procedures on primates were issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each year since the Act came into force.

Mrs. Rumbold

Non-human primates receive special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and may be used only where no other suitable species is available. Records held centrally on project licences issued do not identify those which authorise the use of non-human primates. Non-human primates accounted for 0.2 per cent. of animals used in scientific procedures started in 1990.