HC Deb 06 February 1995 vol 254 cc112-3W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were made by inspectors under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to(a) the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Salisbury, (b) the Defence Research Agency, Alverstoke and (c) The Centre for Human Sciences in each of the last five years.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

The number of visits made by inspectors was:

  1. (a) Chemical and Biological Defence Establishments
    • 1990: 5
    • 1991: 9
    • 1992: 8
    • 1993: 7
    • 1994: 6
  2. (b) Defence Research Agency, Alverstoke
    • 1990: 4
    • 1991: 4
    • 1992: 2
    • 1993: 3
    • 1994: 2
  3. (c) Centre for Human Sciences (Previously the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine)
    • 1990: 4
    • 1991: 4
    • 1992: 6
    • 1993: 4
    • 1994: 9

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list and give details of project licences involving animal experiments granted to Ministry of Defence establishments for each of the last two years for which information is available;

(2) how many project and personal licenses issued to Ministry of Defence establishments under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been withdrawn; and what were the reasons in each case.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Information held in connection with the issue of licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 will have been given in confidence: the disclosure of such information is prohibited by virtue of section 24 (1) of the Act.

Twelve project licences were granted to Ministry of Defence establishments in 1993, and 20 in 1994. In 1993, 10 project licences expired at the end of the five years permitted by the 1986 Act, and three were surrendered when the relevant project work was completed; in 1994 three expired and seven were surrendered.

In 1993, nine personal licences were revoked on completion of the work on which the licence holders were engaged; in 1994 the figure was 24.

Information on the numbers of project and personal licences issued to particular establishments prior to 1993 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.