HC Deb 05 March 1964 vol 690 cc1499-500
11. Mrs. Emmet

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to appoint a well qualified woman to the committee advising his Department on the supervision of laboratories making use of live animals for scientific and medical purposes.

Mr. Brooke

I have invited Dr. Frances Gardner, F.R.C.P., to take the place of one of the members of my Advisory Committee who recently resigned. I am glad to say that she has agreed to serve, and I have accordingly appointed her a member of the Committee.

Mrs. Emmet

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that appointment, which will give a great deal of satisfaction to a number of my constituents who have written to me about the completely male set-up of this Committee up to date, may I ask him to bear in mind that one lady might be a little lonely on the Committee and that if another vacancy occurs it might be strengthened in that respect? Is he aware that if he were to do that it would ease a great deal of the worries of those who feel very concerned about this matter, who would feel that with women and men together on the Committee there might be a more detailed and practical supervision of these laboratories?

Mr. Brooke

As my hon. Friend raised this question, I might be permitted to say that one lady among a committee otherwise of men does not always feel lonely. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me credit for having broken through the hitherto all-male character of this Advisory Committee.