§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what permission the Animals Procedures Committee has granted for animals to be used in experiments into the effects of active and passive smoking; what species and numbers of animals are to be used in these experiments; and who is funding this research. [118037]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Animal Procedures Committee has no power to grant or refuse applications for authority to use animals in scientific procedures. Such powers are exercised by the Secretary of State.
The Government have a firm policy of not granting applications to research tobacco products and the effects of these products. No applications for work on the effects of active and passive smoking have been approved nor have any such applications been referred to the Animals Procedures Committee for advice.