§ 3.40 p.m.
§ Lord Houghton of SowerbyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the recent report of the Advisory Committee on Animal Experiments.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)My Lords, my right honourable friend has decided that it would be right to publish this report and has set in hand arrangements for this purpose. These will take a little time and it would not be right to anticipate publication by putting a copy in the Library. On behalf of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary, I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mrs. Warnock and members of the advisory committee for their valuable work.
§ Lord Houghton of SowerbyMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. He is aware that we in this House are awaiting the Third Reading of the Laboratory Animals Protection Bill, which may take place later this month. As I am given to understand that the advisory committee devoted a great deal of its report to the Bill and the report of the Select Committee that preceded it, may I ask if we are likely to have access to the report before the Third Reading of the Bill?
§ Lord BelsteadNo, my Lords; I very much doubt it.