Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Wednesday, 23 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 July 2004. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 July 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many researchers funded by (a) the Medical Research Council and (b) the Biotechnology and Biological Services Research Councils grants travelled abroad to conduct research on animals in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many researchers funded by (a) the Medical Research Council and (b) the Biotechnology and Biological Services Research Councils grants travelled abroad to conduct research on animals in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [181069] Ms Hewitt: Neither MRC nor BBSRC has a central record of how many grant-holders travel abroad to conduct research on animals and it would be cost- prohibitive to gather it. Both Councils have a policy that they will not provide funding for animal research overseas if it appears that it is being proposed in order to reduce costs or to bypass the high standards set in the UK.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 181069; 423 c665-6W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Animals Animal experiments Finance Travel Research Visits abroad Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Medical Research Council
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk