§ 32. Mr. Burdenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that no wild or tame animals coming into the possession of pest control officers of his Department will be handed over for vivisection.
§ Mr. John MackieI can give an absolute assurance in respect of tame animals. In the case of wild animals, however, it is occasionally necessary in the course of my Department's research into pest control methods to conduct experiments involving minor operations under anaesthetic on live animals of pest species. Animals have also been supplied to other recognised research institutions.
§ Mr. BurdenDoes the Joint Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that these wild animals will not be used by his Department under anaesthesia or turned over to laboratories without licences being obtained from the Home Office to carry out such investigations?
§ Mr. MackieNone of the establishments which gets animals from us is anything but licensed for the job.
§ Miss QuennellThe Joint Parliamentary Secretary said that in some instances pest species were turned over for these purposes. Will he tell the House of what those species consist?
§ Mr. MackieThey are mostly rodents and wood pigeons.