§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the use of primates in research in British universities. [75630]
§ Margaret HodgeUse of animals for research is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This specifies that non-human primates can only be used where there are no alternatives. In addition to regulatory testing to help ensure the safety of medicines, non-human primates are also used for other important areas of fundamental research. For example they contribute to programmes of work relating to Parkinson's disease, visual impairment, stroke, diabetes, disorders of reproduction and vaccine
40Wstudents, through borrowing, and through Private Finance Initiative projects. Funding for the Further Education sector included no ear-marked capital in 1997–98; we plan to provide over £250 million in 2003–04.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England provides capital funding for a variety of purposes, for example for improving poor estates, and providing access for students with disabilities. Higher education institutions are invited to bid for this funding. If capital investment is needed for the expansion of student places, higher education institutions are expected to fund this from recurrent grant, reserves, from charities, endowments or other gifts, through PPP/PFI projects or through borrowing. Our planned funding for the Higher Education sector included ear-marked capital of £256 million in 2001–02, rising to £364 million in 2003–04.