Written question asked by John McDonnell (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 June 1998. It was answered by George Howarth (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what involvement his Department had in the decision to allow Imutran to export two transgenic pigs to the Netherlands for use in an organ transplant experiment; for what reasons it was considered appropriate for this experiment to be carried out abroad rather than in the UK; and if Imutran had sought permission to conduct this experiment in the United Kingdom. - Inc ref to 312 c166-7W, 14 May 1998.

Answer: Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement his Department had in the decision to allow Imutran to export two transgenic pigs to the Netherlands for use in an organ transplant experiment; for what reasons it was considered appropriate for this experiment to be carried out abroad rather than in the UK; and if Imutran had sought permission to conduct this experiment in the United Kingdom. [47307] Mr. George Howarth: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 14 May 1998, Official Report, columns 166-67. The purpose of exporting these animals was, we understand, to facilitate an international research programme on xenotransplantation. Part of this programme is carried out in the United Kingdom. Collaboration of this sort is preferable to groups in different countries carrying out independent research programmes and any replication of work this might entail.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 314 c588W; 47307
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Animal experiments Exports Livestock Pigs Xenotransplantation Netherlands Imutran