HC Deb 16 July 1992 vol 211 cc969-70W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prohibit the use in British laboratories of primates that have been caught in the wild.

Mr. Charles Wardle

No. Where the use of primates in research is justified under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, there may be no alternative to the use of wild-caught primates if purpose-bred animals are not available. Inspectors do, however, encourage the use of propose-bred primates where such animals are available.