HC Deb 13 March 1992 vol 205 cc742-3W
Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received a copy of the response from the Research Defence Society dated January 1992 to the Advocates for Animals report on the use of non-human primates in research in Great Britain.

Mrs. Rumbold

A copy of the Research Defence Society analysis of the Advocates for Animals report, which it sent to Members of Parliament who had signed early-day motion 214, was received in the Department on 29 January 1992.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department published its response to the Advocates for Animals report into the use of non-human primates in research in Great Britain; and if he will name those organisations to whom it was sent.

Mrs. Rumbold

The Home Office responded to the Advocates for Animals report on 3 February 1992 after detailed consideration of its contents. The Home Office response was made available to the Animal Procedures Committee, but has not otherwise been made available to any organisation.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department consulted(a) the Research Defence Society or (b) any other pro-animal research organisation before responding to the Advocates for Animals report on the use of non-human primates in research in Great Britain.

Mrs. Rumbold

In the course of the regular contact which the Home Office has with the Research Defence Society, along with other organisations concerned with the use of animals in research, the report by Advocates for Animals was discussed. The Home Office response to the report was however formulated in the light of detailed comments from Home Office inspectors about the research work in question and was not discussed with any outside organisations.

Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the similarity between the wording used by his Department in its response to the Advocates for Animals' report on the use of non-human primates in research in Great Britain and that contained in the response received earlier from the Research Defence Society.

Mrs. Rumbold

No. Although the Home Office was aware of the Research Defence Society's views, the responses were prepared separately.