§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many animals, broken down by312W species, were used in experiments in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years for which figures are available; [134281]
(2) how many primates have been (a) used in scientific procedures and (b) killed during their use in scientific procedures during the last 10 years for which figures are available; [134278]
(3) how many experiments were conducted on animals in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134280]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe number of animals, listed by species, used in scientific procedures in the United Kingdom for each of the last five years for which figures are available, is given in Table 1a in each of the publications Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, and Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland, copies of which are in the Library. The same table for Great Britain also shows the number of primates used in scientific procedures each year (primates are not separately identified in the Northern Ireland statistics) but the statistics do not give any information on the number of primates killed during their use in scientific procedures.
The number of scientific procedures performed on living animals in the United Kingdom for each of the last five years for which figures are available, is given in Table 1 in each of the publications Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, and Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland, copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compliance of Imutran with the terms of the special dispensation licensing their use of primates in scientific procedures in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [134279]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienSection 5(6) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 provides that a project licence authorising the use of cats, dogs, primates or equidae shall not be granted unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that no other species are suitable. I am aware of concerns about the use of primates in xenotransplantation research carried out under authorities granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and I am considering the issues raised. I am not in a position to comment further at this stage.