§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were allowed into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months for use in experiments; and what requirements must be met for such animals to be allowed entry into the United Kingdom. [118488]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Home Office does not record centrally the number of animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in scientific procedures. However, Table 2 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals", published annually in separate volumes for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, records the number of scientific procedures carried out, analysed by Schedule 2 listed species and source of animals. Animals listed in Schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 can only be acquired from designated breeding or supplying establishments for use in procedures authorised under the Act unless the Secretary of State has granted a specific exemption.
Table 2 identifies animals obtained from non-United Kingdom sources broken down between those acquired within the European Union and those acquired from outside the European Union. The statistics for 1999 are 233W currently being collated and will be published in July. The statistics for 1998 show that the total numbers of animals acquired from non-United Kingdom sources were:
From European Union sources From non-European Union sources Total Great Britain 6,800 14,745 21,545 Northern Ireland 28 4 32 Total 6,828 14,749 21,577 The following criteria are applied in deciding applications for such exemptions: no suitable animals must be available from designated breeding or supplying establishments within the United Kingdom; the overseas source must be judged to be of good repute; and travel and import controls must be met. Welfare issues involved in the import of animals from abroad, such as journey times, are also considered as part of the Home Office cost/benefit assessment for project licences.