Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that research scientists are given appropriate training to understand the terms of their animal experimentation licences.

The training requirements for all licence holders under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are set out in section 9 of the Guidance on the Operation of the 1986 Act.

The licensed establishments Named Training & Competency Officer (NTCO) has to confirm the suitability of applicants for personal licences and applicants are required to satisfactorily complete the relevant formal module training provided by Accredited Training Bodies.

Personal licence holders are also required to undertake practical training under supervision until confirmed as competent in each technique at their place(s) of work. They should review their training and supervision needs regularly with their NTCO as a minimum every five years but generally more frequently.

Training for project licence holders includes the formal module training required and applicants will need to demonstrate the necessary scientific expertise and knowledge to direct and manage the programme of work applied for.

Establishment licence holders and Named Persons Responsible for Compliance are expected to understand the relevant legal and ethical issues relating to the use of animals under the 1986 Act. They are expected to undertake accredited training in the relevant module(s) to provide this understanding.

Records of training, supervision and competence are required to be kept by the Establishment and are open to inspection.