<\/p>
The information asked for is not held centrally and could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost.
The Government only authorises procedures on animals after rigorous checks.
Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 there is a statutory
requirement for scrutiny by, in the first instance, the Animal Welfare Ethical
Review Body at the Establishment where the work will be performed, and then an
assessment is made by the Home Office Inspectorate. In addition, projects are
referred to the Animals in Science Committee for scrutiny where they propose
the use of non-human primates in severe protocols and other projects that ministers
consider require further consideration.
One of the key factors in the assessment of licence applications is the
harm-benefit analysis, which has been part of our assessment process since
1986. The parameters considered in this analysis are described in Appendix I of
the Operational Guidance to the 1986 Act. A harm-benefit analysis determines
whether the proposed harms to the animals are justified by the likely benefits to be
delivered from the project. Inspectors give advice on minimising harms during
their assessment of project licence applications. Licensees have a legal
responsibility to ensure that work is undertaken on animals in the least severe
manner possible whilst delivering their scientific objectives. This year we
are undertaking a review of the harm-benefit analysis process, with advice from
the Animals in Science Committee, to determine if there are further refinements
we can make to the process.
I am committed to working to reduce the number of animals used in scientific
procedures. The Coalition Commitment delivery plan "Working to reduce the use
of animals in research" was published in February 2014. In particular, the Home
Office Inspectorate is working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals on methods of refinement of the most severe models to avoid
or reduce animal suffering. This has included careful consideration of models
of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, seizures, rheumatoid arthritis
and sepsis. Inspectors are actively promulgating the recommendations from each
of these reports.
In addition, the Home Office has published advisory notes on recording and
reporting actual severity, as required by the transposed European Directive
from 2013. From data collected we will provide clarity on the burden of harm
and, over time, should give an indication of the effectiveness of refinement
methods, particularly for the most severe procedures.
It is imporant to note that procedures classified as severe represent only a
small percentage of total procedures.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-10T12:51:22.0552547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what scientific purposes she has licensed procedures on animals that were likely to cause severe suffering since 2010; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of animals experiencing severe suffering in scientific procedures.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "198600"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/57633", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/57633/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain
for 2013 will be published on 10 July 2014.
I will be publishing a progress report on the Coalition Commitment "Working to
reduce the use of animals in research" in early 2015.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-10T12:48:16.7120588Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will measure changes in the number of animals used in scientific procedures in the UK following publication of Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research in July 2011.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "198633"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78520", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78520/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2013 report a total of 52,444 procedures were conducted on 6,725 animals with \u2018Direct diagnosis\u2019 as the primary purpose. This represents a 3% increase on the total number of procedures, in this category, in 2012 and a 1% increase on the number of animals, in this category, in 2012. Most procedures reported under the category \u2018Direct diagnosis\u2019 involve the collection of blood or blood products from either non-immunised animals or animals immunised against various antigens. The procedure of blood collection is classified as being of low severity and, with appropriate licence authority, may be repeated
many times in the same animal. The products from these procedures, including whole blood and antisera, are used in diagnostic tests.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "206312"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-25T16:59:36.5697977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2013, what procedures are included in the direct diagnosis category.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "206313"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78521", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78521/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2013 report a total of 1.16 million procedures were conducted on animals with \u2018Fundamental biological research\u2019 as the primary purpose. This is a reduction of 11% over the figure for 2012. The change in the number of procedures carried out in this category, in any particular year, depends on many factors. These factors include: investment in fundamental biological research; strategic decisions taken by funding bodies; global economic trends; scientific innovation; and, the development and uptake of validated alternative technologies.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-25T17:07:29.3120077Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2013, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the changes in the number of procedures in the fundamental biological research category.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "206311"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78522", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78522/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2013 report a total of 52,444 procedures were conducted on 6,725 animals with \u2018Direct diagnosis\u2019 as the primary purpose. This represents a 3% increase on the total number of procedures, in this category, in 2012 and a 1% increase on the number of animals, in this category, in 2012. Most procedures reported under the category \u2018Direct diagnosis\u2019 involve the collection of blood or blood products from either non-immunised animals or animals immunised against various antigens. The procedure of blood collection is classified as being of low severity and, with appropriate licence authority, may be repeated
many times in the same animal. The products from these procedures, including whole blood and antisera, are used in diagnostic tests.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "206313"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-25T16:59:36.3197594Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2013, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the large number of procedures in the direct diagnosis category.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "206312"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78529", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78529/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
To identify the longest period between inspection visits made to any UK establishment licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (as amended 2012) can only be established at disproportionate cost.
The Home Office Inspectorate follows a risk-based approach in deciding how often to visit an establishment. The risk assessment is specific to each establishment taking account of the factors as published in the 2012 Animals in Science Regulation annual report. Visiting frequency varies from at least once per year for a low risk establishment carrying out little or no research, through to some 40 times per year for large, high risk establishments.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-25T17:02:39.2943884Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Animal Experiments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the longest period between inspection visits made to any UK establishment licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (as amended 2012) currently is for establishments deemed by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit to be of (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low risk.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"} ], "uin" : "206182"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 6, "type" : "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"} }