§ Baroness Ludfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 11 March (WA 47–48), whether it is their intention to raise with the European Commission the principle of the use of non-human primates in research during the revision of Directive 86/609/ EEC. [HL4312]
§ Lord RookerFurther to the reply I gave to the noble Baroness on Monday 11 March 2002 (WA 47–48), Home Office officials are still in the process of considering the relevant issues and no firm conclusions have been reached as to all the matters we should raise.
However, the United Kingdom Government's position on the use of Great Apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, pygmy gorillas, and orang-utans) is that we cannot foresee any justification for their use in scientific procedures. This policy was set out in the Supplementary Note to the Home Secretary's response to the Animal Procedures Committee interim report on the review of the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Copies of this document were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 6 November 1997.
As to other non-human primates, we support the position reflected in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, under which they can be used only in strictly controlled circumstances when no other suitable species is available.