Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent neglect of monkeys used for medical research.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) provides protections for animals in the UK used in scientific procedures. All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals, in Great Britain under ASPA must comply with the Code of Practice which sets out standards for the appropriate care and accommodation of animals, including for non-human primates (monkeys). The Regulator conducts regular on-site audits to assess compliance. Non-human primates are afforded ‘specially protected species’ status in the law, which necessitates greater oversight by the Regulator.