Experiments On Monkeys (No. 2)

EDM number 604 in 1995-96, proposed by Ken Livingstone on 12/03/1996.

That this House notes the National Anti-Vivisection Society video of a macaque monkey exhibiting stereotypic, disturbed behaviour, constantly circling her cage in the same pattern , bobbing her head; notes that this monkey is simply a companion for monkeys under experimentation; wishes to know why this monkey has minimal cage furniture, no bedding and foraging material, not access to its own species, as set out in the Governments' Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures, and if the Home Office Inspectorate is aware that this monkey has behaved like this, in the same cage, for at least three months; further notes that on his project licence application, R.J.Lemon, claims to have 'spent time developing toys and other objects to keep the monkeys from becoming too bored, and none of our monkeys displays the stereotypic behaviour of bored captive monkeys', and invites the Home Office to investigate the video footage of the monkey, Alice, and report on how long she will be kept alive like this in the light of the project licence statement by the Designated Establishment Certificate holder, Robert Walker, that he 'accepts responsibility for ensuring that suitable facilities for its performance will be available in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures and my responsibilities as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the Guidance'.

This motion has been signed by a total of 29 MPs.