HC Deb 30 November 1998 vol 321 cc80-1W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to regulate the destruction of unwanted animals bred for use in experiments; [60936]

(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the numbers of animals bred for use in experimentation but subsequently discarded without being so used; [60938]

(3) if he will make it a requirement for those holding project licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to publish details of the number of surplus animals killed each year; [60937]

(4) if he will estimate the number of animals bred each year for possible use in experimentation but subsequently discarded without being so used. [60939]

Mr. George Howarth

Under the terms of section 10 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, animals bred in designated establishments for use in scientific procedures but which are surplus to requirement must be killed by a method which is appropriate under Schedule 1 to the Act or otherwise approved by the Secretary of State. We have already accepted recommendations made by the Animal Procedures Committee, in its interim report on the review of the 1986 Act, that those killing animals by Schedule 1 methods should be trained and that a register of competent persons should be maintained in designated establishments. We have no plans, at this stage, to introduce further controls.

The production of genetically modified animals is a regulated procedure under the terms of the 1986 Act and must, therefore, have project licence authority. Details of all such animals are already included in the annual statistics. Project licence holders are not, however, responsible for the breeding of non-genetically modified animals and it would not, therefore, be possible for them to provide details of the number of surplus animals killed each year. All establishments are, however, required to keep records of the source, use and disposal of animals.

The Animals Procedures Committee has been looking at overbreeding and wastage of laboratory animals as part of its review of the operation of the 1986 Act. The Committee's report on the review was published as appendix F to the Committee's annual report, which was laid before Parliament on 26 November. The Committee notes that some overbreeding is unavoidable, but it can be minimised and the Committee has identified six principles of good practice which will be refined in collaboration with the Laboratory Animal Science Association. We accept the Committee's recommendation that we should issue these as guidelines for breeding establishments.

The Committee also suggests that establishments be required to report to the Home Office figures for overbreeding of those animals listed in Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act. We will consider this.