HC Deb 12 July 1973 vol 859 cc1764-5
11. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of animal experiments carried out for the last year for which figures are available were for strictly medical purposes; and what proportion were for the other categories.

Mr. Lane

All experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 must be performed with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving and prolonging life or alleviating suffering, but I regret that within this definition the figures are not subdivided so that "strictly medical purposes" can be identified.

Miss Fookes

Will my hon. Friend tell me why they are not so subdivided?

Mr. Lane

Because they never have been. But I shall be as helpful as I can. Of the total experiments carried out in 1971, 35 per cent. were accounted for by experiments for the diagnosis of disease in man and animals, for the mandatory testing of drugs, and for cancer research. A large proportion of those not classified were carried out for medical purposes.

Mr. Pardoe

Will the Minister confirm that in exercising its responsibilities the Home Office interprets the law to mean that any experiment that will further scientific knowledge is legitimate? Is he aware that this is a licence to commit atrocities for any scientist who sells his moral judgment for a mess of molecules?

Mr. Lane

I reject completely what the hon. Member has said. I should like him to see several letters that I have received from my own constituents this week defending the administration of the Act for the purposes of human wellbeing and for the protection of animals.

Mr. Woodhouse

Will my hon. Friend confirm that at least wherever possible everything is done to encourage those engaged in medical research to use methods of research that do not involve experiments on animals?

Mr. Lane

Yes, Sir. The latest provisional figures that I have seen of total experiments indicate that the trend may be levelling off, or turning downwards, which rather bears out the point that my hon. Friend has made.