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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has (a) commissioned and(b) evaluated on the use of the LD50 procedure; and if he will make a statement. [181808]Caroline Flint: The Home Office has not commissioned any research on the use of the LD50 procedure in animal testing. However, we doevaluate relevant analysis and technical progress reported in the scientific literature, and consider the outputs of organisationslike the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD). Indeed, following the adoption of OECD Guidelines 420, 423and 424, and the deletion of the less refined OECD Guideline 401, no project licence authorities for lethal testing using the OECD401 Guideline have been granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.Summary details of acute lethal toxicity tests undertaken are published in annual statistics. The last such publication is entitledStatistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2002 (CM 5886) and is available in the Library. |