§ 14. Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to make arrangements for Members of Parliament to visit laboratories using live animals in experiments, to which his inspectors have access.
§ Mr. LaneAccess to premises registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, which are private property, is a matter for those responsible for them. But if any hon. Member who wishes to make a visit will let me know, I shall see if arrangements can be made.
§ Miss FookesI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. May I stress that the important point about such visits is that they should be unheralded?
§ Mr. LaneThe visits of the inspectorate are also unheralded. May I stress to my hon. Friend that last May I issued a standing invitation to any hon. Member who wished to make a visit to get in touch with me, but I am still waiting for the first volunteer.