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Wild-caught Primates
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions permission was given for the use of wild-caught primates for research purposes during 1998; and what was (a) the species of primate used, (b) the source country, (c) the number of primates used and (d) the research for which permission was given. [69282]
Mr. George Howarth: During 1998, one project licence authorising the use of wild-caught non-human primates was granted. Under this licence, four wild-caught baboons, obtained from Kenya, were used in heart xenotransplantation research during 1998. Two further wild-caught rhesus macaques were used in neuroscience research under the authority of a licence granted before 1998. These were obtained before 1996. It was not possible to check their country of origin in the time available.
Primates (Xenotransplantation Research)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions inspectors of scientific procedures involving animals have asked for primates used in xenotransplantation research to be destroyed to prevent unacceptable levels of pain or distress in each of the last three years. [69290]
Mr. George Howarth: I will write to the hon. Member.
Transgenic Pigs (Medical Research)
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many transgenic pigs have been released under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for export from the United Kingdom for use in medical research and experimentation in each month since May 1997. [69291]
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Mr. George Howarth:
The information requested is as follows:
| Month | Number of Pigs | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| June 1997 | (19)5 | USA |
| August 1997 | (19)7 | Japan |
| November 1997 | 4 | Netherlands |
| April 1998 | (19)12 | Canada |
| April 1998 | 10 | Spain |
| April 1998 | (19)21 | Spain |
| May 1998 | 2 | Netherlands |
| June 1998 | (19)21 | Italy |
| June 1998 | 5 | Spain |
| September 1998 | (19)8 | Canada |
(19) These animals were exported for use in breeding programmes rather than for use in scientific procedures
Imported Primates (Journey Times)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the (i) longest and (ii) average recorded journey time of primates imported to the United Kingdom for research purposes during 1998 from (a) China, (b) Mauritius, (c) Indonesia and (d) the Philippines. [69281]
Mr. George Howarth: In accordance with the measures introduced in 1996, the Home Office only requires that an estimated total journey time be provided prior to each acquisition and that, after each acquisitions, confirmation be provided that the importation was in accordance with what had been authorised.
The information requested is as follows:
| Country/journey details | Average journey time |
|---|---|
| China | |
| Longest--58 hours | 52 hours |
| Mauritius | |
| Longest--38 hours | 28 hours |
| Indonesia | |
| No importations during 1998 | -- |
| Philippines | |
| Longest--48 hours | (20)Estimated 30 hours |
(20) It has not been possible to give an average journey time for acquisitions from the Philippines as the necessary information is still being collated
As a result of pressure on airlines from animal protection groups, it is now impossible to fly primates directly to the United Kingdom. Instead, they are usually flown into mainland Europe and then transported to the United Kingdom by road and ferry, increasing the journey times and the associated stress for the animals.
Home Detention Curfew Scheme
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the prisoners released on 28 January, subject to home detention curfew, had (a) one previous conviction and (b) more than one previous conviction for offences to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies; [69191]
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Mr. George Howarth:
Five of the 38 prisoners placed on home detention curfew on 28 January were serving sentences for offences of violence. Offenders required to register under the Sex Offenders Act 1997 will only be placed on home detention curfew in exceptional circumstances. No offender who was serving a sentence for an offence covered by Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 was placed on home detention curfew on 28 January. The data on previous convictions are not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member when this has been collated.
Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the median time taken for the Criminal Cases Review Commission to reach a decision on reference to the Appeal Court. [67830]
Mr. Boateng:
I understand that since April 1997, the median time taken, from receipt of the application, to reach a decision on cases (other than those which the Commission has determined do not meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995) was 212 working days.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs are currently employed by Her Majesty's Prison Service in England and Wales. [69094]
Mr. George Howarth:
The total number of dogs in the Prison Service at the end of January 1999 were 752. These are broken down as:
(2) how many of the prisoners released on 28 January, subject to home detention curfew were serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence of violence and had (a) one previous conviction for violence and (b) more than one previous conviction for violence. [69192]
462: German shepherd dogs of which 18 are dual purpose dogs.
178: Active drug dogs.
34: Passive drug dogs.
78: Arms and explosive search dogs.
Prisons (Illegal Drugs)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds have been spent in each of the last three years on mandatory drug tests in prisons. [68996]
Mr. George Howarth: There is a central budget covering expenditure on laboratory analysis, a courier service, collection kits and stationery. Expenditure from that budget in the last three years has been as follows:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 1,076,381 |
| 1997-98 | 1,599,137 |
| April 1998 to January 1999 | 1,100,000 |
These figures do not include the cost of staff who collect the samples and provide administrative support. Responsibility for meeting these costs is devolved to
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each prison governor. Information on this element of expenditure is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the amount of illegal drugs discovered in each of Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last three years. [68997]
Mr. George Howarth:
The table lists for each of Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales for the last three years, the number of finds of illegal drugs discovered. No central record of the aggregate amount of the drug is kept.
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