§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the independent assessors to be used to scrutinise clinical trials relating to xenotransplantation, indicating which has expertise in animal welfare issues. [76502]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 16 March 1999]As is common practice in peer review, the names of independent external assessors appointed to advise on applications submitted to the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA), are not disclosed. As a condition of their 741W appointment, all assessors are required to sign an undertaking confirming that they have no conflicts of interest which might affect their assessments.
Regulatory control of the welfare of animals potentially to be used as sources for xenotransplantation lies with the Home Office. A Code of Practice on the welfare of high health status pigs as xenotransplantation source animals is currently being developed by the Home Office (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. In considering any application, the UKXIRA would expect to see evidence of animal welfare standards at least equal to those to be included in the Code of Practice. However, the UKXIRA also recognises that there may be circumstances in which advice on the animal welfare aspects of specific applications is required. The appointment of appropriate assessors is currently being pursued.