Primate Journey Times

EDM number 802 in 1997-98, proposed by Norman Baker on 17/02/1998.

That this House is concerned that non-human primates transported to United Kingdom research laboratories suffer greatly as a result of the journey from their country of origin; notes that journey times of up to 58 hours from countries such as the Phillipines, Indonesia, Mauritius and China are commonplace; further notes that the primates travel packed in small wooden crates in aeroplane holds; considers that such practices cause undue stress and suffering; is aware that it is Home Office policy to take into account adverse effects which may occur to animals during transport to the United Kingdom when deciding whether to allow their use in experiments; and therefore calls upon the Home Office not to grant licences to experiment on primates when the adverse effects endured by them during transport are too severe to be outweighed by the benefit of research.

This motion has been signed by a total of 80 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.