Animal Procedures Committee (Hansard, 21 October 1997)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary's response and the interim report itself are being laid before Parliament today, appended to the annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee.

The Government are grateful to the committee for having initiated a far-reaching and thoughtful review of the operation of the 1986 Act, based on the views submitted as part of a wide consultation of interested parties. Thirteen recommendations are made at this stage and the Government have accepted all of them.

We have already strengthened the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. Three new inspectors have been appointed and additional funding found for this and the following financial years. We will alert the management of establishments designated under the Act to the requirement for structures, advice and systems to enforce the provisions and conditions attached to authorities granted by the Secretary of State. This includes the need for training and updated guidance.

We are appraising several aspects of the operation of the 1986 Act and the committee's recommendations are therefore timely and useful. Like the committee, the Government want to see much greater emphasis on the development and use of alternatives to animal procedures. We will be exploring this issue as we work to ensuring the highest possible welfare standards with our European colleagues.

It is recognised that the review will continue to be a major task of the committee in the coming months. We welcome proposals that aspects of the working of the Act be made more transparent and, in this respect, we 203WA particularly welcome the planned statement on the cost-benefit assessment. This is part of the evaluation of every application which takes place before the Secretary of State determines whether and on what terms protected animals may be used in scientific procedures.