§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 26, what were the exceptional and specific justifications established for the use of wild-caught baboons in regulated procedures since 1996. [42113]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe wild-caught baboons are used in important heart xenotransplantation research. Baboons are used because of their physiological similarity to humans and because primates of a particular size (over 6kg) are essential. Extensive efforts have been made, by the research team, to find suitable sources of captive-bred baboons, but captive-bred animals are not available in sufficient quantities.
166Wlevel of repeat offending for drug offences involving (a) possession of cannabis, (b) dealing in cannabis, (c) possession of ecstasy, (d) dealing in ecstasy, (e) possession of heroin and (f) dealing in heroin. [41618]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe most recently available relevant information relates to reconvictions in samples of prisoners discharged from prison in 1994 and of offenders commencing community penalties in 1994.
The source of this information on reconvictions is the Home Office Offenders Index. This does not contain information on cautioning of offenders. It should be borne in mind that this information relates to reconviction rather than reoffending and is restricted to offenders who have been sentenced to custody or a community penalty.
All applications to use wild-caught primates are referred to the Animal Procedures Committee. In this case, the Committee advised in 1994 that there was justification for allowing their use. The Committee has closely monitored and reviewed the work involving these baboons since the licence was granted.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he discharged the transgenic pigs exported by their owners Imtran for use in experimentation in Holland from the protection of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement; [42076]
(2) how many animals intended for use in experiments were exported, and to which countries, for the latest year for which figures are available; [42112]
(3) what controls his Department exercises in the regulation of the export of animals for intended use in experiments. [42075]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe export and transportation of animals is primarily a matter for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Home Office does not keep central records of the number of animals exported, nor the purpose for which they were exported.
167WAnimals which have been used in scientific procedures must be discharged from the controls of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 before they can be exported. We have authorised the discharge of transgenic pigs from the controls of the Act so that they might be exported to Holland. This authorisation was contingent upon a number of conditions, aimed at ensuring animal welfare, being met. These required, inter alia, that a veterinary certificate of fitness to travel be obtained and that only those animals which are unlikely to suffer adverse effects be exported. Any unexpected adverse effects experienced by the animals must also be reported to the Home Office.