Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 19 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 February 1998. It was answered by George Howarth (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 February 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions since 1st January 1993 he has required licences applied for under the Animals (Scientific Producers) Act 1986 to be (a) refused and (b) withheld pending amendment because of concern about the transport conditions for animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in experimentation. - Info not available and refer to 12 January 1998, 304 c61-3W.

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 January 1993 he has required licences applied for under the Animals (Scientific Producers) Act 1986 to be (a) refused and (b) withheld pending amendment because of concern about the transport conditions for animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in experimentation. [31105] Mr. George Howarth: Central records which indicate why applications were refused or withdrawn are not kept. It is rare that licences need to be formally refused. Normally, the Inspectorate will indicate to the applicant that the licence cannot be recommended in its current form and the applicant either amends or withdraws it. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 January 1998, Official Report, column 61, where I explained that authority to acquire primates from a particular overseas source had been withdrawn because of problems relating to the transport of animals.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 31105; 307 c178W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Animal welfare Animals Animal experiments Licensing Imports Transport
Contains statistics: Yes