To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to secure the establishment of a European primate register to conserve stocks of non-human primates used in scientific procedures.

Effective measures to conserve stocks of non-human primates are clearly desirable. We are aware of an initiative from the Primate Society of Great Britain in this area and of continuing interest in such a scheme within Europe. The United Kingdom will play its full part in giving thorough consideration to any formal proposals which emerge.