§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 26, concerning wild-caught primates, what were the scientific procedures the wild-caught baboon was subjected to; when the transplantation occurred; if the baboon is still alive; how many visits to the establishment where the procedures took place have been made by the Home Office Inspectorate since 1 January 1997; and what regulated procedures will be performed on the second wild-caught baboon. [45427]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe first animal was used in an orthotopic heart transplant procedure (in which it received a heart from a transgenic pig) on 23 March. It has since been humanely killed.
Since 1 January 1997, inspectors have visited the establishment on five occasions.
The second animal was considered to be an unsuitable candidate for surgery and was humanely killed without being used in any regulated procedures.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of the Under-Secretary of State, Lord Williams of Mostyn, to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (AP/98 1/10/86), what action he is taking to reduce journey times of primates imported for research; and what plans he has to facilitate the flying of such animals directly to the United Kingdom. [44048]
§ Mr. George HowarthJourney times are unduly long in some cases because, following a campaign by anti-vivisection groups, airlines stopped flying primates directly into the United Kingdom. Instead, the animals are flown into mainland Europe to be transported to this 645W country by road and ferry. The Home Office has no powers to insist that airlines carry primates or other animals directly into the United Kingdom.
In deciding whether to allow primates to be acquired from overseas sources, the transport arrangements are taken into account.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics his Department collates about the countries from which primates are imported to the United Kingdom. [44049]
§ Mr. George HowarthI assume that my hon. Friend is interested in statistics relating to the breeding and supplying centres and not in general statistics about the countries concerned.
In deciding whether to give approval for the acquisition of primates from overseas for use in regulated procedures in the United Kingdom, information about the breeding centre is scrutinised. This information includes details of the breeding colony (its size and composition); animal accommodation and husbandry; health status and monitoring arrangements; breeding performance; staffing; and arrangements for transportation to the United Kingdom.