§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the reporting of the methods used in research on primates at Cambridge University; [64259]
(2) what assessment he has made of progress made in research on primates at Cambridge University in the past five years; [64258]
(3) what investigation he has made of non-animal alternatives to the research on marmoset brain research at Cambridge University; [64256]
(4) what plans he has to review research into primates at Cambridge University; [64260]
(5) what factors he took into account in assessing marmoset brain research at Cambridge University in order to evaluate (a) the potential benefits to be derived from the research and (b) the suffering likely to be experienced by the marmosets; [64254]
(6) what assessment he has made of (a) the housing conditions and (b) the post-operative care of marmosets involved in research at Cambridge University; [64257]
(7) if he will refer the research into primates at Cambridge University to the Animal Procedures Committee; [64261]
266W(8) what factors informed his decision to give each of the project licences for marmoset brain research at Cambridge University a moderate severity band. [64255]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthWe have received a copy of a report of an investigation carried out by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection into primate research at Cambridge university, and we are in the process of giving it careful consideration.
As part of that, the Chief Inspector of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate has been commissioned to report on the documentation, analysis and advice underpinning the original severity limits and severity bands on the relevant project licences. In addition he will advise on whether the licensing decisions were sound and defensible, and will review compliance with the relevant licence authorities.
The Animals Procedure Committee (APC) may advise the Secretary of State about any issues relating to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The APC has been made aware of the concerns recently raised about the research in question, but the Secretary of State does not plan at this stage to refer the matter to the Committee, pending receipt of the Chief Inspector's report.
The general factors taken into account in assessing the applications for licences to conduct the research are as set out in the Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and in the Chief Inspector's paper on the cost/benefit assessment published as part of the Animal Procedures Committee annual report of 1997 (both are available in the Library). In determining whether and on what terms to grant a project licence, section 5 (4) of the 1986 Act requires that the likely adverse effect on the animals concerned must be weighed against the benefit likely to accrue as a result of the programme specified in the licence.
The severity bands assigned were determined according to the principles set out in the relevant sections of the Home Office Guidance on the Operation of the 1986 Act. The assessment of the severity band for the project as a whole reflects the number of animals used on each protocol and actual suffering likely to be caused as result. It is based on the overall level of cumulative suffering to be experienced by each animal, not just the worst possible case. It takes into account the proportion of animals expected to reach the severity limit of the protocol and the duration of the exposure to that severity limit, the nature and intensity of the adverse effects, and the actions taken to relieve the suffering. Professional judgment must be applied by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate (ASPI) on a case-by-case basis.
Under the provisions of the 1986 Act, animals can only be used in scientific procedures when there is no alternative way to achieve the objective concerned, such as using computer models, cell cultures and other in vitro methods. This condition applies to the research conducted at Cambridge university and (ASPI) challenged, verified and advised this is the case. ASPI is composed of medical and veterinary graduates with a wide range of experience and expertise in the biomedical sciences, including research methods not involving the use of living animals. All establishments designated under the 1986 Act are required to provide standards of care and accommodation complying with the provisions of the Home Office Code 267W of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures. This is required through conditions of issue attached to the Certificates of Designation and is monitored through the inspection programme. The required standards of post-operative care in this case were prescribed through the terms and conditions of the relevant certificate of designation, project licence and personal licences.
Progress and conduct of the research has been monitored by ASPI in the normal way through announced and unannounced inspections, supplementary information obtained when licence amendments were sought, and from publications resulting from the programme of work.
We will consider what further action may be appropriate when we have received the Chief Inspector's report.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in 2001 will be published. [64742]
§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 23 June 2002]: It is expected that these statistics will be published in the second half of July 2002.