§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Huntingdon Life Sciences was granted a licence to breed dogs at their laboratory at Occold; and to what extent his Department's inquiry into Huntingdon Life Sciences' treatment of dogs was taken into account in allowing the licence. [16726]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Certificate of Designation was amended on 23 May to allow the breeding of dogs.
Careful consideration was given to the suitability of allowing Huntingdon Life Sciences to breed dogs in the light of the allegations made in the Channel 4 programme. The emerging findings from the Chief Inspector's investigation showed, however, that the problems uncovered by the broadcast were limited to the Huntingdon site.
The Chief Inspector had specifically assessed conditions at Occold. The housing conditions for the dogs and the adequacy of the staffing arrangements to ensure the welfare of the animals were therefore checked before the Certificate of Designation was amended.