To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences for animal experiments were (a) applied for and (b) successful in 2004; and for what reasons applications were rejected. (81433)

In 2004, 595 project licences were applied for and of those 413 were granted in 2004, 122 in 2005 and two in 2006. None were formally refused. Nineteen are still being processed. Thirty nine applications are recorded as not proceeded with.

A feature of the regulatory regime under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is the discussion that often takes place at an early stage between applicants (or prospective applicants) and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. This means that proposals unlikely to meet the Act’s stringent requirements are revised or withdrawn before formal refusal becomes necessary.