HC Deb 05 February 1998 vol 305 cc745-6W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require those establishments given project licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to keep full records of animals bred for experimentation and subsequently destroyed or sold on without being so used. [27542]

Mr. George Howarth

Project licences authorise programmes of work regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. They are not granted to establishments but to individuals.

Under sections 6 and 7 of the Act, establishments where animals are used in scientific procedures or where animals listed in Schedule 2 of the Act are bred or supplied for such use must be designated in a certificate issued by the Secretary of State. The standard conditions which apply to all designated user establishments include: The certificate holder shall ensure that records are maintained of the source, use and final disposal of all protected animals accommodated in the establishment for scientific purposes and that such records are available to be seen by the Inspector or for submission to the Secretary of State".

For designated breeders or suppliers they include: The certificate holder shall ensure that records are maintained of the source, use and final disposal of all protected animals bred, kept for breeding or kept for subsequent supply for use for scientific purposes and that such records are available to be seen by the Inspector or for submission to the Secretary of State".

These records are not, however, collated centrally.

We do not propose to bring all animals which are protected under the terms of section 1 of the Act within the scope of Schedule 2. It will, therefore, remain possible for animals not included in Schedule 2 to be bred for use in scientific procedures in non-designated establishments. We have no powers to require such establishments to keep or provide records.

All the standard conditions on Certificates of Designation, Project Licences and Personal Licences are published in the Appendices of the Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.