HL Deb 06 May 1986 vol 474 cc587-8

[References are to (Bill 75) as first printed for the Commons]

1 Clause 2, page 3, line 2, after ("use") insert ("the place where it is killed is a designated establishment").

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 1.

This amendment, which was moved in another place with the full support of the Government, sets out to deal in a satisfactory way with the killing of animals in the wild for scientific purposes. As the Bill left your Lordships' House, Clause 2(7) provided that the killing of an animal should be a regulated procedure if the killing were carried out for experimental or other scientific use, and the method was not one of the standard humane methods specified in Schedule 1 to the Bill.

This provision was very satisfactory so far as concerns the great majority of the killing of animals carried out for scientific use—killing which is going to take place in laboratories. We have separately tightened up the detailed arrangements as respects killing in all kinds of establishments designated under the Bill, and we shall come to consider that presently in connection with Amendments Nos. 7, 14 and 22. The issue here is what should be done about the small amount of killing of animals carried out for a scientific purpose in the wild. I understand, for example, that the Nature Conservancy Council and some other research bodies carry out the shooting of birds in order to monitor pesticide residues or to study diet.

Clearly, it would not be sensible to try to apply to animals in the wild the system of controls over killing which this Bill introduces and which is geared to the controlled environment of the laboratory. The circumstances are markedly different and many of the controls would be difficult or impossible to adhere to. We should also end up in the rather strange position of imposing restrictions on the shooting of birds for science, but not for the huntsman's food. The amendment, by exempting from control the killing of animals in the wild, avoids these potential anomalies and I accordingly commend it to the House. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(Lord Glenarthur.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.