§ 16. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects are currently being funded by his Department involving the use of animals; and what species are involved. [10371]
§ Mr. MaloneEleven projects involving the use of animals are currently receiving funding from the Department. We have commissioned these projects in response to public health concerns about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, BSE and food poisoning. Those studies chiefly involve the use of mice, but chickens and rabbits are also used. All of these projects conform to the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which is administered by the Home Office. I have placed a list of these projects in the Library.
The Department also supports a range of research activity in the national health service and non-departmental public bodies, some of which involve the use of animals but detailed information on them is not held centrally.