HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 cc492-4W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to ensure that the code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures is effectively enforced. [22195]

Mr. Sackville

The code provides guidance on best practice in the treatment and use of laboratory animals. It does not purport to set mandatory requirements which must be followed in all circumstances. I am satisfied that the code makes a valuable contribution to the effective operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. We have no present plans for further action.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that detailed housing requirements are included in the code of practice on the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures for all laboratory animals to ensure appropriate environmental enrichment and social contact for each species; and if he will make a statement. [22147]

Mr. Sackville

We have no plans to amend the code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures. The existing code of practice is sufficiently flexible to reflect developments in scientific knowledge about the needs of particular species.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to ensure accountability for welfare standards for laboratory animals on the part of the designated certificate holders, the named veterinary surgeons, the named day-to-day carers and the individual Home Office inspectors; and if he will make a statement. [22148]

Mr. Sackville

No changes are necessary. Of the five categories of persons identified as holding responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, three—the personal licence holder, the project licence holder and the holder of the certificate of designation— are directly accountable to the Home Office. The other two—the named day-to-day care person and the named veterinary surgeon—are accountable to the certificate holder for the maintenance of standards of husbandry and care and for the provision of advice on the health and welfare of animals, respectively.

The inspectors are accountable to the Secretary of State for checking that the specific responsibilities of these person are adequately met.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exemptions he has granted in each of the last five years for the supply of animals for experimentation which have not come from a designated supplier; what were the animals concerned; and what was his reason for granting the exemption in each case.[22149]

Mr. Sackville

Schedule 2 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 lists the kinds of animals which may be obtained only from designated breeding or supplying establishments, unless the Secretary of State believes that an exemption from this requirement is justified.

Comprehensive information on the number of such exemptions is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In almost all cases, the reason for granting the exemption would have been lack of availability of suitable animals from designated sources.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made on non-designated supply establishments for laboratory animals prior to his granting an exemption allowing them to be used; and if he will make a statement. [22150]

Mr. Sackville

No person may breed or supply animals of the species listed in schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for use in regulated procedures unless designated under the Act. By definition, therefore, any non-designated supplying establishment must be abroad, and outside the jurisdiction of United Kingdom law.

In respect of non-human primates, the Home Office inspectorate has taken steps to familiarise itself with conditions in the principal overseas breeding and supplying establishments. Arrangements shortly to be introduced will, in addition, require those wishing to use primates from abroad to submit to the Home Office details of the operations and facilities in the establishments from which they wish to obtain their animals.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates have been imported to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years to establishments licensed to perform procedures in animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or to establishments designated to supply animals under that Act. [22151]

Mr. Sackville

The figures for the number of primates directly imported to establishments licensed to perform procedures on animals under the 1986 Act are as follows:

  • 1991: 80
  • 1992: 240
  • 1993: 373
  • 1994: 765
  • 1995: 551

The figures do not include primates imported by designated breeders and suppliers under authorities which do not require notification the Home Office in respect of each consignment.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was his Department's response to the letter of 24 August 1994 from J. L. Frogley, laboratory superintendent to the Home Office inspector about the import of rhesus monkeys; what consideration he gave to the possibility of instructing the establishment to wait until animals became available from a designated breeding establishment; and if he will give the reasons for his decision. [22152]

Mr. Sackville

The request was handled in accordance with the current Home Office policy that primates may be acquired from non-designated sources only if suitable animals cannot be acquired from designated sources.