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Animal Experiments
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who applied for licences PPL 170 04972 and PPL 170 04956 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [110987]
- (2) in respect of Paragraph 5.13 of the Minutes of the Animal Procedures Committee of 13 October 1999, for what reasons animals suffering from convulsions are treated as not requiring intervention; [111048]
(3) if he will make a statement on the use of animals in procedures aimed at identifying people who could be targeted for smoking cessation programmes; [110989]
(4) for what reason it was concluded that animal experimentation is justified under licences PPL 70/04972 and PPL 70/04956; [111015]
(5) pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 258W, if he will make a statement on paragraph 5:11 of the Minutes of the Animal Procedures Committee of 13 October 1999; [111083]
(6) in respect of paragraph 5:7 of the Minutes of the Animal Procedures Committee of 13 October 1999, what information beyond that gained over the past 30 years is expected to be realised by licences PPL 70/04972 and PPL 70/04956; [111013]
(7) what weight he gave to the views of members of the Animal Procedures Committee opposed to the granting of applications PPL 170 04972 and PPL 170 04956 before deciding to authorise these. [110988]
Mr. Mike O'Brien
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 February 2000, Official Report, columns 257-58W.
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Project licences are only issued for legitimate purposes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 after the likely benefits (to man, animals or the environment) have been weighed against the costs to the animals involved. Any alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals needed or refine the experimental design to minimise suffering must be employed. In the cases of these two project licences, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate and the Animal Procedures Committee have both advised that the use of animals can be fully justified.
The Animal Procedures Committee gave careful consideration to these applications, most recently on 13 October. The views of all members as well as its overall advice was taken into account in reaching my conclusion.
The minutes of this meeting show at paragraph 5:7 that the issue of smoking research during the last 30 years was raised. The Government have a firm policy of not granting applications to research tobacco products. Such research is an entirely different matter from research into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The benefits of the information gained through the use of newly available molecular biology will be a better understanding of the resulting condition, the ability to identify those most at risk of developing these conditions, and the development of new and improved treatments. The identification of people for possible smoking cessation programmes was given as only one possible example of the likely benefits of the work. It did not feature as a major reason for approving either of the applications and is considered to
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be nothing more than an incidental benefit which, if it were to be considered in isolation, would not have justified the issue of licenses.
Paragraphs 5:11 and 5:13 of the minutes discuss some aspects of the applications. My previous statement that the animals are not expected to suffer convulsive spasms is correct. Reference to "convulsions" was made as this adverse effect is routinely included on the standard scoring system for assessing distress levels at the establishment where the work is to be performed. Such adverse effects seldom occur in isolation from other signs of distress and I am assured that they are not expected to occur at all in the context of these projects. The reference to scoring "normal" is, therefore, misleading. The Committee minutes make reference to the administration of spasmogens which are substances that may induce bronchospasm (wheezing). I am told that these will not cause convulsions or seizures mediated through the central nervous system and the reference to "convulsions" was subsequently removed from the application.
Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits me from naming the applicants.
Mrs. Fiona Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make court transcripts available via the Internet. [111223]
Jane Kennedy:
I have been asked to reply.
There are currently no plans for making court transcripts available via the internet. Current court reporting equipment does not allow for automatic production of authorised transcripts and the cost of placing this information on the internet would outweight any benefits gained from doing so.
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Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the (a) contractual and (b) funding difficulties limiting the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's ability to provide trade training for vehicle mechanics; [109739]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The Army Training and Recruiting Agency has had no specific contractual difficulties that have limited its ability to provide trade training for vehicle mechanics. The contracts in place for this and other trade training are sufficiently flexible to allow for changes to the requirement to be made within the contract period, subject, of course, to appropriate negotiations between the contractor and the customer. There have been some difficulties in aligning available funding with the required outputs in time to produce the necessary changes to throughput in any one year. However, changes to the budget structure from this year will give the Agency greater control over this process.
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers based at Bordon were waiting for trade training on (a) 1 February 2000, (b) 1 October 1999, (c) 1 April 1999, (d) 1 October 1998, (e) 1 April 1998, (f) 1 October 1997, (g) 1 April 1997, (h) 1 October 1996 and (i) 1 April 1995. [109736]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The information is not available prior to 30 April 1997. The figures requested, since that date, are as follows:
(2) what assessment he has made of whether the contracts let for trade training by the Army Training and Recruiting Agency contain sufficient flexibility to respond to changes in demand within the contract period. [109740]
| Date | Soldiers awaiting trade training |
|---|---|
| 1 February 2000 | 154 |
| 1 October 1999 | 234 |
| 1 April 1999 | 140 |
| 1 October 1998 | 259 |
| 1 April 1998 | 189 |
| 1 October 1997 | 283 |
| 30 April 1997 | 207 |
These numbers represent a "snap shot" on the date in question. Numbers will vary throughout the year, but tend to be particularly high in October when students passing out from the Army Apprentice College the previous month are awaiting allocation to courses.
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the (a) financial provision and (b) expenditure by the Army Training and Recruiting Agency on trade training for the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bordon in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [109735]
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Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The information requested is as follows:
| Financial year | Financial provision at current (1999-2000) prices | Actual expenditure at current (1999-2000) prices |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 17,497 | 17,298 |
| 1995-96 | 15,489 | 15,755 |
| 1996-97 | 17,649 | 18,106 |
| 1997-98 | 15,579 | 15,991 |
| 1998-99 | 14,681 | 15,248 |
The downward trend over the last three years is as a result of efficiencies introduced by the ATRA, which was formed in 1996. The slight overspends against provision were accommodated within the Agency's overall provision.
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increases in funding for the Army Training and Recruiting Agency to cover trade training have been requested; and what was the response. [109737]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: All training conducted by the Army Training and Recruiting Agency is subject to review and the outcome is taken into account in the annual planning rounds. This process is being undertaken at present and no decisions have been made.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed at the Defence Export Sales Organisation's branch office in Jakarta; and if the office closed during the period of the EU arms embargo on Indonesia. [109853]
Dr. Moonie:
The Defence Export Services Organisation currently employs one UK-based civil servant in the British Embassy in Jakarta as the First Secretary (Defence Supply). There is also one locally engaged driver. The First Secretary post was filled during the period of the EU embargo, but had no role in the support of marketing and sales by British defence companies in Indonesia during that period.
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