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Personal Data
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the progress made by the reviews (a) on retention of DNA profiles collected by the police from individuals for elimination purposes, (b) on the wider use of electoral roll personal data without the consent of the elector and (c) on the application of the national security exemption to the processing of personal data held by the Security Service for a purpose which relates to serious crime. [89653]
Mr. Boateng: We intend to issue a consultation paper shortly. The Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which has been looking at this alongside other issues, is expected to report to the Home Secretary later in the summer. Consideration is still being given to the exemptions for the Security Service that would be necessary under the Data Protection Act 1998. At this stage, it is not envisaged that the Security Service would rely on exemption provided by section 29 of the 1998 Act (crime and taxation).
Animal Experiments
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates since 1 July 1998 when the named veterinary surgeon appointed under section 7(5)(b) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 visited Harlan UK Ltd., indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and on which occasions he considered that the welfare of an animal gave cause for concern and so invoked the procedure laid down in section 7(b) of that Act. [89533]
Mr. George Howarth: The Home Office does not hold records concerning visits to establishments by the named veterinary surgeon. I understand, however, that the named veterinary surgeon for this establishment is employed on a full-time basis by the company and would, therefore, have been on site most days.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of beagles in animal experimentation. [89450]
Mr. George Howarth: Animals can be used in scientific procedures only where the benefits to humans, other animals or the environment outweigh the costs to the animals involved and where there are no suitable alternatives. Dogs (along with cats, primates and equidae) can be used only if animals of no other species are suitable or if it is not practicable to obtain animals of a suitable species. Unless otherwise authorised, only dogs acquired from designated breeding establishments can be used in scientific procedures.
In 1997, 7,490 scientific procedures were carried out on dogs (less than 0.3 per cent. of all procedures) of which 7,240 involved beagles. Of the 7,490 total, 4,581 were for assessing the safety or efficacy of pharmaceuticals and 1,738 were for pharmaceutical research and development.
No-one likes to use animals in scientific procedures and particularly dogs. However, their use in some procedures is still essential in medical research and testing. The aforementioned figures indicate the important areas of work in which the vast majority of dogs are used.
5 Jul 1999 : Column: 333
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (1) make a statement on the findings of the recent British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report into Harlan UK Ltd in relation to alleged infringements of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [89534]
(3) list the dates since 1 July 1998 when his Department's Inspectorate has visited Harlan UK Ltd. under section 18(2)(d) of the Animals (Scientific Proceedings) Act 1986, indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and what reports were made to him in accordance with section 18(2)(e) of that Act; [89531]
(4) make a statement on the death of two primates en route from Oxford University to Harlan UK Ltd. [89449]
Mr. George Howarth:
We have received, and are studying, a detailed report provided, on 29 June, by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). An investigation into the allegations made has already been launched and I have asked for urgent advice on whether there is a need to suspend--under the powers granted by section 13 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986--the establishment's certificate of designation.
A comprehensive and thorough investigation will be carried out. It will be led by a senior member of the Home Office Inspectorate unconnected with this establishment. This could take two or three months to complete, but I will be receiving interim reports.
In addition to the standards of care and welfare of animals, the BUAV report criticises the Home Office Inspectorate. These allegations will be considered during the investigation.
I will be advising the Animal Procedures Committee of the outcomes in due course.
It would be wrong to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation and I will not, therefore, comment further at this time. However, I give the hon. Member my assurances that if any of the allegations of contraventions of the Act; of the terms and conditions of licences or certificates; or of the Codes of Practice are substantiated appropriate action will be taken to rectify the problems and to prevent recurrence. No options have been ruled out at this stage.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to end the practice whereby more animals are bred for research purposes than are used in experiments; [89448]
(3) if he will make it a requirement under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for establishments to keep full records of (i) the number of animals bred for research purposes and (ii) the number of such animals subsequently destroyed without being so used. [89454]
5 Jul 1999 : Column: 334
Mr. George Howarth:
I refer to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 30 November 1998, Official Report, columns 80-81.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986 are currently in force at Harlan UK; and how many of these are classified as (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity. [89532]
Mr. George Howarth:
There are currently two project licences in force that have primary availability at this establishment--i.e. it is the main place at which procedures are carried out under the authority of the licence. One of these is of mild severity and one moderate. There are a further 22 project licences that have primary availability elsewhere, but that have secondary availability at this establishment. Eleven of these are of mild severity and the remainder are moderate.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when plans he has to introduce drug-testing kits for police to check people suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. [89746]
Mr. Boateng:
We have no current plans to introduce such kits, but tests have been carried out on some to assess their practicality for police use and further work is being undertaken to develop a specification for a roadside screening device.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criteria which he is currently applying to decisions to extend expired passports for two years; and what plans he has to review these criteria. [89866]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The criteria are as follows:
Where children are included on passports, they can be:
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates since 2 May 1997 on which the Chief Executive of the Passport Agency submitted his quarterly reports to ministers. [89865]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Since 2 May 1997, the Chief Executive has submitted his quarterly reports to Ministers on the following dates:
(2) instigate an investigation into Harlan UK Ltd. to establish whether infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have occurred; [89535]
(2) if he requires research, breeding and supply establishments to keep full records detailing the numbers of research animals killed each year, and where such animals have had their (i) blood, (ii) tissue and (iii) organs sold; [89455]
extended until the date of the eldest child's sixteenth birthday so long as there is a minimum of six months, or
extended for two years so long as all the included children are 14 years or younger.
Children included on a passport require their own passport when they reach the age of 16.
| Period | Date Submitted |
|---|---|
| April to June 1997 | 11 August 1997 |
| July to September 1997 | 18 November 1997 |
| October to December 1997 | 12 February 1998 |
| January to March 1998 | 12 May 1998 |
| April to June 1998 | 6 August 1998 |
| October to December 1998 | 1 February 1999 |
| January to March 1999 | 19 May 1999 |
5 Jul 1999 : Column: 335
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the present members of the Passport Agency's Advisory Board. [89863]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The present members of the Passport Agency's Advisory Board are:
- Mike Elland
- Deputy Director General, Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office (Chairman)
- Keith Ackroyd
- Former Managing Director, Boots Retail Division
- Malcolm Davidson
- Former Managing Director, Littlewoods Pools
- Robert Fulton
- Principal Finance Officer, Home Office
- Linda Lockyer
- Director Corporate Resources, Home Office.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates on which (a) the Passport Agency's Management Board and (b) the Passport Agency's Advisory Board have met since 2 May 1997. [89864]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested on meetings of the Passport Agency's Management Board, and its Advisory Board since 2 May 1997 are as follows:
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 30 July, 30 October |
| 1998 | 28 January, 29 April, 29 October |
| 1999 | 28 January, 28 April |
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 19 May, 23 June, 2 July, 21 July, 18 August, 28 August, 15 September, 20 October, 17 November, 15 December |
| 1998 | 19 January, 16 February, 16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 22 June, 20 July, 17 August, 16 September, 19 October, 9 November, 21 December |
| 1999 | 18 January, 22 February, 22 March, 20 April, 17 May, 21 June |
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy during the present delays at the Passport Agency to waive or reimburse the £10 additional fee due from applicants in person; and if he will make a statement. [89843]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 30 June that for any applicant calling personally at a passport office who applied more than two weeks ago, and had not yet received their passport, the £10 additional fee for personal applications would be waived.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow in urgent circumstances the two year extension of passports which include the names of children aged under 16 years; and if he will make a statement. [89844]
5 Jul 1999 : Column: 336
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The arrangements to extend passports by two years includes passports where children are included.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone calls were made to the UK Passport Agency in June; and how many of those received the Agency's courtesy message. [89846]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Passport Agency has information only up to 25 June. Up to that date, the Agency had received 914,580 telephone calls, of which 621,915 received a courtesy message.
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