§ Mr. LomasMr. Speaker, in my capacity as chairman of the All Party Humane Research Group and vice-chairman of the Animal Welfare Group, I beg to present a Petition, signed by over 50,000 people, which reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of Citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland sheweth that the practice of dissection as included in the present school curriculum has a hardening effect upon the character of pupils involved, and necessitates the destruction of defenceless creatures when sufficient information for the education of those young people could be derived by more humane methods and the time and money spent thereon could be better diverted to providing more valuable and sympathetic education.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the practice of dissection upon animals be prohibited by law by your Honourable House.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.