Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 23 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 December 2004. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 December 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether lethal endpoints were expected in (a) project licence authorities and (b) other communications between his Department, the Animal Procedures Committee and Imutran xenotransplantation procedures with a moderate severity limit.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether lethal endpoints were expected in (a) project licence authorities and (b) other communications between his Department, the Animal Procedures Committee and Imutran xenotransplantation procedures with a moderate severity limit. [199911] Caroline Flint: The possibility that animals would die in the course of the Imutran xenotransplantation studies licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was considered and humane endpoints were set to require action to be taken before any such deaths, and to minimise any suffering caused. Permission was neither sought by Imutran Limited, nor granted, for procedures requiring death as the endpoint, other than as the result of humane killing.

Secondary information