§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the representations he has received calling for greater openness in respect of the nature and types of animal experimentation in the United Kingdom; and what actions the Government are planning in this respect. [6580]
§ Mr. George HowarthI have replied that section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the disclosure of information provided confidentially in licence applications. These are assessed by Home Office inspectors, in whose expertise and integrity we have complete confidence. Annual statistics are published which provide detailed information on the nature and type of scientific procedures carried out on animals in each year. The report of the Animal Procedures Committee also sets out details of the operation of the Act.