§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000,Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experiments, how many of the pigs used were transgenic; and if he will make a statement; [112633]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experiments, how many primates were killed by order of the Home Office Inspectorate under the provisions of section 18(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, on the ground that they were undergoing excessive suffering; what procedures they had been subjected to; and if he will make a statement; [112564]
566W(3) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experiments, in the case of primates used in organ transplant experiments, how many primates had an organ of their own removed and replaced with a pig organ; how many had a pig organ inserted into them but kept their own organ; and if he will make a statement; [112565]
(4) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experiments, how many of these primates were wild-caught; and if he will make a statement; [112629]
(5) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experimentation, if he will provide a breakdown of the cause of death of all the primates used in xenotransplantation research between 1996 and 1999; and if he will make a statement; [112630]
(6) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experiments, if he will describe the experiments in which these primates were used; and if he will make a statement; [112631]
(7) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257–58W, on animal experimentation, how many pigs were used in (a) breeding experiments aimed at producing pigs with certain desired genetic characteristics and (b) experiments involving the removal of pig organs for transplantation into primates; and if he will make a statement. [112632]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNone of the primates were killed by order of the Home Office Inspectorate under the provisions of Section 18(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 on the ground that they were undergoing excessive suffering. All of the decisions to treat or euthanase the animals were made by the relevant named veterinary surgeon.
My previous answer explained that the majority of the primates were euthanased once they began to show clinical or biochemical evidence of terminal organ failure or when their clinical condition began to give cause for concern. The aim of this procedure is to prevent unnecessary suffering to the animals.
Twenty-nine wild-caught primates were used in xenotransplanation research in 1996; 16 in 1997; three in 1998 and none in 1999.
I am unable to provide answers to the hon. Gentleman's remaining questions as to do so would involve the release of commercially sensitive information on experimental design and production strategy, which is precluded by section 24 of the 1986 Act.
As I stated in my previous answer, we understand that the company concerned has already briefed the hon. Gentleman on its xenotransplanation programme and it has indicated that it would be happy to update the hon. Gentleman and other parliamentary colleagues on the most recent position.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to table 11 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in GB for 1998, relating to procedures carried out on dogs to satisfy legislative requirements, if he will identify the legislative requirements, indicating the number of licences awarded 567W in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999 to allow procedures to be carried out and the number of procedures carried out under each licence; and if he will make a statement. [112563]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Government recognise the particular concern about the use of dogs in scientific procedures. Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, animals may be used only where there are no alternatives and where the benefits of the programme outweigh any suffering caused to the animals concerned. In addition, certain species (including dogs) can be used only where animals of no other species are suitable. Special conditions, tailored to each project, control and minimise any pain or suffering caused.
Examples of specific legislative requirements relevant to Table 11 (Scientific procedures (toxicology) by species of animal, type of legislation and toxicological purpose) are provided in the Introductory Notes to the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals (Great Britain 1998). They are:
- The Medicines Act 1968;
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations;
- Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986;
- European Union Pesticides Directives; and
- The Food Safety Act 1990.
Table 11 records 4,275 procedures carried out on dogs in 1998. These were conducted under 39 separate project licenses. Tables 13, 15 and 16 provide further information on the type of toxicological tests used. The number of procedures carried out under each licence was as follows:
568W
Licence Procedures 1 50 2 13 3 28 4 417 5 50 6 46 7 180 8 10 9 28 10 25 11 18 12 242 13 4 14 106 15 290 16 435 17 483 18 8 19 6 20 34 21 18 22 43 23 9 24 46 25 98 26 6 27 8 28 4 29 93 30 25 31 253 32 148 33 24 34 39
Licence Procedures 35 8 36 859 37 18 38 40 39 63 Figures for 1999 are being collated now and are not yet available. They will be published in July.