HC Deb 19 January 1998 vol 304 cc382-5W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were carried out last year by his Department's inspectors to establishments authorised to undertake animal procedures; and how many of these were unannounced. [22957]

Mr. George Howarth

Figures for 1997 have not yet been finalised. I will write to the hon. Member when they are available.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure animals held in captivity for use in experiments are allowed to follow normal behavioural patterns so far as possible; and on how many occasions in 1996 his Department's inspectors have required changes to be made to conditions of captivity. [22952]

Mr. George Howarth

The environmental conditions required for animals used in scientific procedures are set out in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures and reflected in the conditions set out in the establishment's Certificate of Designation. As far as possible, account is taken of species specific behaviour patterns and needs.

Central records are not kept of how many times inspectors have required changes to be made at designated establishments to meet the conditions set out in the Certificate of Designation.

The Inspectorate has completed audits of all establishments designated under section 6 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and found high levels of compliance. Instances of non-compliance are being addressed.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what opportunities exist for pooling of data and other information obtained from animal experimentation between the United Kingdom and other countries; and what steps he is taking to encourage this. [22954]

Mr. George Howarth

There are no powers under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to require scientists to share data obtained from animal experimentation. Scientists are, however, expected by the Home Office to publish the results of their research.

Under certain circumstances, where animal test data are submitted to regulatory authorities, there may be statutory obligations to share this data with third parties. The Home Office has encouraged this, as such sharing may reduce the number or scope of regulatory tests involving the use of animals.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the percentage of animal procedures carried out in 1996 which replicated procedures already undertaken previously(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere. [22955]

Mr. George Howarth

This information is not available.

On occasion, replication or duplication of procedures may be essential to establish the reliability of previous data and findings. Unless there are valid reasons for replicating work already undertaken, the Inspectorate will not recommend that a licence be granted.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated in each year since 1987 for offences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what was the outcome in each completed case. [22960]

Mr. George Howarth

Two prosecutions have been initiated since 1987. In 1991, an individual was convicted of breeding and supplying animals for use in scientific procedures while not being designated under section 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In the other instance, charges were brought in 1997. This case is still before the courts.

Prosecutions for cruelty in designated establishments have also been pursued under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reconcile respect for commercial confidentiality with his stated policy to seek to reduce the numbers of procedures carried out. [22956]

Mr. George Howarth

We assume the question relates to scientific procedures involving animals.

We have already announced our intention to investigate the possibility of a European database on alternative methods and to make applicants for project licences declare what consideration they have given to alternatives which reduce the number of animals used or replace them entirely (as well as refining procedures to minimise suffering).

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate will continue to assess licence applications to ensure that alternatives are used wherever possible. I do not accept that there is a conflict between commercial confidentiality and efforts to minimise the number of animals used in scientific procedures.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes will be required to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to comply with the terms of the Government's White Paper on Freedom of Information. [22958]

Mr. George Howarth

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is one of a number of Acts which contain statutory bars to the disclosure of information. Section 24 of the Act prevents the disclosure of information given in confidence. The Government have announced that they will be reviewing such statutory bars to decide whether they should remain or should be amended to bring them into line with the "substantial harm" and "public interest" tests proposed in the White Paper on Freedom of Information: "Your Right to Know" (Cm 3818). No decisions have yet been made concerning individual Acts.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to increase substantially the penalties available for failure to adhere to the conditions laid down as part of project licences under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [22959]

Mr. George Howarth

The available penalties are set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These include variation or revocation of licences (section 11); suspension of licences (section 13); and, upon conviction under section 22 of the Act, imprisonment or a fine. The maximum term of imprisonment is two years on conviction on indictment or six months on summary conviction. Variation of a licence may include changes to the authorities granted (such as removing authority to carry out certain protocols) or the addition of special conditions. We have no plans to change these provisions of the Act.

In addition to these penalties, administrative measures can be taken such as admonition, or a requirement that licensees attend a training course. The latter can be formalised by the variation of the licence by the addition of a special condition.

All infringements of the Act are reported to the Animal Procedures Committee which reviews the level of penalties imposed and advises on whether these were appropriate. It remains Home Office policy to impose penalties primarily to prevent recurrence of the infringement of the Act.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals bred or otherwise obtained for use in animal experimentation in 1996 were subsequently killed without being so used; and what this was as a percentage of animals used. [22951]

Mr. George Howarth

Animals which are bred in designated establishments for use in scientific procedures under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 but which are not so used can be killed by Schedule 1 or other approved methods without licence authority under the Act.

Types of animal which are not listed in Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act can be bred within non-designated establishments. Surplus animals can be humanely killed in such establishments without authority under the terms of the 1986 Act.

The Home Office cannot therefore collate, or even estimate, the number of animals bred for use in scientific procedures but which were killed without being used.

Changes to the Act would be needed if statistics of this nature were to be collected and there are no plans to make any such changes.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking(a) within the EU and (b) within the UN to discourage animal experimentation. [22953]

Mr. George Howarth

The United Kingdom takes an active role with its partners in Europe to ensure the implementation of the provisions of European Directive 86/609/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.

There is no forum within the United Nations for discussing the use of animals in scientific procedures. However, links with other countries (including a number of non-European Union countries) exist through the Council of Europe and the European Convention ETS 123 for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes.

The Directive, the Convention and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 require that animals be used only where this is justified and where alternative methods of achieving the objective of the programme of work are not available.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning the reliability of the results derived from animal testing and their applicability in respect of humans. [22963]

Mr. George Howarth

No research has been commissioned by the Home Office, but account is taken of species differences in the design of experiments, in the range of animal species used, and in the correlation of animal-based data with other experimental data. This includes, where appropriate, that produced in human trials.

The requirement to carry out safety tests using animals, the nature of the tests and the way the results are analysed and interpreted are the responsibility of other Government Departments and other international regulators, not the Home Office.