§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the kind of experiments animals are used in; what controls are in place to reduce to reduce the unnecessary waste of animals; and what measures are in place to ensure that companies cannot purchase animals for excessively cruel procedures. [136144]
§ Caroline FlintI have been asked to reply.
The use of animals in scientific procedures is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which is widely viewed as the most rigorous piece of legislation of its type in the world. It offers a high level of protection to animals whilst recognising the need to use animals in medical research, the development of new medicines and scientific testing. It also has sufficient flexibility to allow the latest ideas and technology to be taken into account when deciding whether the use of animals is justified.
Under Section 5 (3) of the 1986 Act, project licences are only granted for programmes of work that satisfy one or more of the following purposes: the prevention (whether by the testing of any product or otherwise) or the diagnosis or treatment of disease, ill-health or abnormality, or their effects, in man, animals or plants; the assessment, detection, regulation or modification of physiological conditions in man, animals or plants; the protection of the natural environment in the interests of the health or welfare of man or animals; the advancement of knowledge in biological or behavioural sciences; education or training otherwise than in primary or secondary schools; forensic enquiries; the breeding of animals for experimental or other scientific use.
In determining whether and on what terms to grant a project licence, Section 5(4) of the 1986 Act requires that the likely adverse effects on the animals concerned must be weighed against the benefit likely to accrue as a result of the programmespecified on the application. For the purposes of this cost/benefit assessment, the cost to the animal is considered as the adverse effects of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. The benefits must be for humans, animals or the environment and relate to the scientific and/or medical progress likely to result from the programme outlined in the application.
Under section 5 (5) of the 1986 Act, a project licence shall only be granted if the purpose of the programme to be specified in the licence cannot be achieved satisfactorily by any other reasonably practicable method not entailing the use of animals; and that the regulated procedures to be used are those which use the minimum number of animals, involve animals with the lowest degree of neurophysiological sensitivity, cause the least pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm, and are most likely to produce satisfactory results.
Under section 10(2A) and Schedule 2A to the 1986 Act, the Secretary of State will not licence any procedures likely to cause severe pain or distress that cannot be alleviated.