HC Deb 30 January 1995 vol 253 cc548-9W
Mr. Fatchett

To as the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of experiments involving animals at Ministry of Defence establishments in each year from 1989.

Mr. Freeman

Animal experiments are an essential but small part of my Department's research and development programme, and as such the costs of these experiments are not recorded separately.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 573, if he will identify the country of origin and commercial source of the rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, miniature pigs, marmosets and rhesus monkeys used in animal experiments at Ministry of Defence establishments; and if he will give the average cost of each animal by type.

Mr. Freeman

All experimental work carried out by the Department using animals is in accordance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Animals are used only when there is no acceptable alternative, and all the animals used are bred in the United Kingdom under conditions regulated by UK legislation. Animals are either bred on site, or purchased from suppliers at the prevailing commercial rate, and these costs are not separately recorded.

It is not in the public interest to disclose the identities of the specific suppliers.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State of Defence what consideration his Department has given to using alternatives to animal testing at Ministry of Defence establishments; how much is being spent on exploring these alternatives; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Freeman

All experimental work with animals at Ministry of Defence establishments is regulated by the Home Office under the conditions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and related legislation. Before any project involving animals is begun, a project licence must be granted by the Home Office. A critical part of the project licence application is a closely argued justification of the proposed use of animals considering the ethical and scientific issues. At each stage, the use of non-animal alternatives has to be considered and the licence is granted only where none is possible. In some cases, in vitro methods which do not use living animals are scientifically superior. Such methods have been developed by my Department, and the results of the research published in scientific literature. Costs are not separately identified and recorded.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the categories of experiments carried out on living animals at Ministry of Defence establishments in each year from 1989; if he will identify the animals involved; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Animal experiments are carried out within the overall categories as defined by the project licences which are issued in accordance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The project licences currently in effect cover mild 7, moderate 15, substantial 4, and unclassified 1.

It would involve disproportionate cost to identify the animals involved and the categories of experiment in each year since 1989.