HL Deb 11 March 2002 vol 632 cc47-8WA
Baroness Ludford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What contact they have had with the European Commission with regard to the preparations which the Commission is making to revise Directive 86/609/EEC, particularly with regard to the use of non-human primates in research. [HL3068]

Single, non-aged personal allowance for a man with children Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged Highest rate of income tax charged Retail Price Index Single, non-aged personal allowance for a man with no children at 2000–01 prices Taxable income above which the highest rate is charged at 2000–01 prices
£ £ % £ £
1970–71 325 20,000 91.25 18.92 2,943 181,105
1971–72 325 20,000 88.75 20.67 2,694 165,772
1972–73 460 20,000 93.75 22.13 3,561 154,835
1973–74 595 20,000 90.00 24.45 4,169 140,143
1974–75 625 20,000 98.00 28.82 3,715 118,893
1975–96 675 20,000 98.00 35.91 3,220 95,419
1976–77 735 20,000 98.00 41.40 3,042 82,766
1977–78 945 21,000 98.00 47.19 3.431 76,241
1978–79 965 24,000 98.00 51.11 3,235 80,450
1979–80 1,165 25,000 75.00 59.19 3,372 72,362
1980–81 1,375 27,750 75.00 68.85 3,422 69,053
1981–82 1,375 27,750 75.00 76.77 3,069 61,929
1982–83 1,565 31,500 75.00 82.20 3,262 65,654
1983–84 1,785 36,000 75.00 86.03 3,555 71,692
1984–85 2,005 38,100 60.00 90.37 3,801 72,231
1985–86 2,205 40,200 60.00 95.71 3,947 71,960
1986–87 2,335 41,200 60.00 98.78 4,050 71,458
1987–88 2,425 41,200 60.00 102.72 4,045 68,717

Lord Rooker

We have welcomed the Commission's intention to revise European Directive 86/609/EEC dealing with the protection of vertebrate animals used in scientific procedures. Home Office officials (representing the United Kingdom) attended the 19th meeting of National Competent Authorities on 29 November 2001 and offered some preliminary suggestions on possible amendments to the directive. Most of the suggestions are matters of updating or clarification and do not raise substantive issues of principle. Instead, they represent features of the United Kingdom system of controls that would make better provision for the protection of animals, and for a level playing field in economic terms if implemented at European level.

We believe that the directive could be enhanced both by changes to the text and also by guidance on the definition and interpretation of key terms. We have recommended that consideration should be given to strengthening the status of Annex II of Directive 86/609/EEC, dealing with the housing and care of laboratory animals, by making it clear that Annex II sets out the minimum standards required rather than simply providing guidelines. We have not at this stage made any specific reference to the use of non-human primates.

We will ensure that the United Kingdom plays a full part in the further work on the revision of the directive.

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