Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inspectors appointed under section 18 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are currently in post; what the complement for such inspectors is; how many of the inspectors are former personal or project licence holders; and what the turnover of inspectors so appointed has been over the last three calendar years.

There are 19 inspectors currently in post appointed under Section 18 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This figure includes the position of Chief Inspector. The Home Office is in the process of recruiting three further inspectors to bring the headcount to a complement of 22.

The turnover of inspection staff over the last three years is as follows:

We do not hold information on whether inspectors are former project or personal licence holders. None of our inspectors currently hold either a personal or project licence.