§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates since 1 July 1998 when the named veterinary surgeon appointed under section 7(5)(b) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 visited Harlan UK Ltd., indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and on which occasions he considered that the welfare of an animal gave cause for concern and so invoked the procedure laid down in section 7(b) of that Act. [89533]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Home Office does not hold records concerning visits to establishments by the named veterinary surgeon. I understand, however, that the named veterinary surgeon for this establishment is employed on a full-time basis by the company and would, therefore, have been on site most days.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of beagles in animal experimentation. [89450]
§ Mr. George HowarthAnimals can be used in scientific procedures only where the benefits to humans, other animals or the environment outweigh the costs to the animals involved and where there are no suitable alternatives. Dogs (along with cats, primates and equidae) can be used only if animals of no other species are suitable or if it is not practicable to obtain animals of a suitable species. Unless otherwise authorised, only dogs acquired from designated breeding establishments can be used in scientific procedures.
In 1997, 7,490 scientific procedures were carried out on dogs (less than 0.3 per cent. of all procedures) of which 7,240 involved beagles. Of the 7,490 total, 4,581 were for assessing the safety or efficacy of pharmaceuticals and 1,738 were for pharmaceutical research and development.
No-one likes to use animals in scientific procedures and particularly dogs. However, their use in some procedures is still essential in medical research and testing. The aforementioned figures indicate the important areas of work in which the vast majority of dogs are used.
333W
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (1) make a statement on the findings of the recent British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report into Harlan UK Ltd in relation to alleged infringements of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [89534]
(2) instigate an investigation into Harlan UK Ltd. to establish whether infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have occurred; [89535]
(3) list the dates since 1 July 1998 when his Department's Inspectorate has visited Harlan UK Ltd. under section 18(2)(d) of the Animals (Scientific Proceedings) Act 1986, indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and what reports were made to him in accordance with section 18(2)(e) of that Act; [89531]
(4) make a statement on the death of two primates en route from Oxford University to Harlan UK Ltd. [89449]
§ Mr. George HowarthWe have received, and are studying, a detailed report provided, on 29 June, by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). An investigation into the allegations made has already been launched and I have asked for urgent advice on whether there is a need to suspend—under the powers granted by section 13 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986—the establishment's certificate of designation.
A comprehensive and thorough investigation will be carried out. It will be led by a senior member of the Home Office Inspectorate unconnected with this establishment. This could take two or three months to complete, but I will be receiving interim reports.
In addition to the standards of care and welfare of animals, the BUAV report criticises the Home Office Inspectorate. These allegations will be considered during the investigation.
I will be advising the Animal Procedures Committee of the outcomes in due course.
It would be wrong to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation and I will not, therefore, comment further at this time. However, I give the hon. Member my assurances that if any of the allegations of contraventions of the Act; of the terms and conditions of licences or certificates; or of the Codes of Practice are substantiated appropriate action will be taken to rectify the problems and to prevent recurrence. No options have been ruled out at this stage.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to end the practice whereby more animals are bred for research purposes than are used in experiments; [89448]
(2) if he requires research, breeding and supply establishments to keep full records detailing the numbers of research animals killed each year, and where such animals have had their (i) blood, (ii) tissue and (iii) organs sold; [89455]
(3) if he will make it a requirement under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for establishments to keep full records of (i) the number of animals bred for research purposes and (ii) the number of such animals subsequently destroyed without being so used. [89454]
334W
§ Mr. George HowarthI refer to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 30 November 1998,Official Report, columns 80–81.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986 are currently in force at Harlan UK; and how many of these are classified as(a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity. [89532]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere are currently two project licences in force that have primary availability at this establishment—i.e. it is the main place at which procedures are carried out under the authority of the licence. One of these is of mild severity and one moderate. There are a further 22 project licences that have primary availability elsewhere, but that have secondary availability at this establishment. Eleven of these are of mild severity and the remainder are moderate.