Experiments On Monkeys

EDM number 603 in 1995-96, proposed by Ken Livingstone on 12/03/1996.

That this House notes that at the Institute of Neurology, London, R.J. Lemon is using macaque monkeys for experiments looking at the nervous connections between the brain and the muscles of the hand; notes that in December 1994, his five-year project licence to conduct these experiments was issued in three working days; further notes that a video of one of the monkeys, a pig-tailed macaque, Elisa, shows a steel head piece fitted into her skull, with electrodes and cannuale fitted into her brain, that this particular species of monkey has been chosen for its friendly nature, its intelligence, and its ability to deal with complex tasks and put up with such a procedure for periods of up to 12 months, that the procedure requires that monkey to be starved for 24 hours then restrained for up to four hours at a time, during which time she is hooked up to a computer, recording the hand movements she has been taught, that the base metal cage breaks almos t every code of practice for the keeping of primates as there is no foraging material, minimal cage furniture and no companionship of her own species; and calls on the Home Office to report on why this licence was issued with such speed, on who was consulted, when and how, by the Home Office Inspectorate on the project licence application, whether the consultation before the application was actually submitted to the Home Office, and on whether such practice is normal.

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.