COMMONS AMENDMENT (Hansard, 6 May 1986)

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 22. This amendment introduces a number of improvements to Schedule 1 of the Bill. I understand that these changes are welcomed by the British Veterinary Association and by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, and indeed were drawn up in consultation with these bodies. I do not think it is necessary for me to go into the technical changes here which deal respectively with methods of killing suitable for use on animals other than foetal, larval or embryonic forms (A), and with methods of killing suitable for use on foetal, larval or embryonic forms (B).
The contents of this schedule are not fixed for all time. We shall keep this important subject of killing under close review and shall not hesitate to propose further amendments to the schedule if this becomes necessary. In any case, this is not an exhaustive list of humane methods of killing laboratory animals: there are many others. However, in our judgment and that 619 of our expert advisers, the others require some skills and therefore need to be controlled through the licensing system. I beg to move.
Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendment—(Lord Glenarthur.)

§ Lord Houghton of Sowerby
My Lords, as this is the final amendment with which we have to deal this afternoon, and in supporting that we should agree with the Commons in this amendment, I should like, before we part with the Bill for the Royal Assent, to express my great appreciation of the co-operation on a number of sides of the House in the compilation of the Bill and in discussing the amendments dealt with in another place.
This has again been a fruitful form of collaboration between the Secretary of State and his Ministers and those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of representing responsible opinion in the animal welfare and professional sides of this discussion. I hope when this Bill reaches the statute book it will have a satisfactory future. I also hope many of the misgivings people are expressing about this Bill will be removed by the experience that we have of it. I certainly hope that Parliament will continue to take an interest in the workings of this measure for years to come, and will look back on the time that we have spent on it as being one of the historic periods of constructive work in both Houses of Parliament.

§ Lord Auckland
My Lords, I believe that this Bill has accomplished one important achievement. It has virtually united the pharmaceutical industry, the chemical industry, and all the industries concerned with the manufacture of many of the products to be used under the Bill with many of the animal welfare societies. I believe that the noble Lord, Lord Houghton of Sowerby, my noble friend the Minister and my honourable friend the Member for Putney have had much to do with this happy situation. At a time when there is much legislation which is extremely controversial, it is an achievement of both Houses of Parliament to get on the statute book a piece of legislation which really is important.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, at times like these courtesies flow, from Bench to Bench, and it is right that they should do so. I should like from these Benches to pay my tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Glenarthur, as well as to the noble Viscount, Lord Davidson, for having handled this Bill with great charm and great clarity of mind.
I am glad that a tribute was paid to my noble friend Lord Houghton of Sowerby. He is rather accustomed to them on any occasion when animals are mentioned. I am not going to say that he is not entitled equally to a tribute upon other subjects; but this of course is the one dearest to his heart. I should also like to pay tribute to the constructive work done in all stages of this Bill by my noble friend Lord Melchett.
I do not think it would be proper for me to end this list of thanks without mentioning the noble Earl, Lord 620 Halsbury, who behind the scenes, and indeed in front of the stage, has done much to make this Bill possible, representing with such authority and distinction the interests that he does.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, with the leave of the House, I merely join with those who have expressed a farewell to this Bill now that it is about to receive Royal Assent. It has been a Bill which both my noble friend Lord Davidson and I have enjoyed doing in your Lordships' House. That is very much due to the manner in which it has been tackled, and, particularly, to the way that the noble Lord, Lord Houghton of Sowerby, and his considerable team of advisers, have helped my right honourable friend Mr. Mellor and myself, and everybody associated with it, in bringing it forward in the calm way in which we have been able to develop it as the past few weeks and months have gone by. When it was introduced it was represented as the first change for nearly 100 years, and to that extent it is significant. I, too, think that the noble Earl, Lord Halsbury, will be pleased at last to see something for which he has worked for so long finally reach the statute book. I am grateful to all your Lordships.

(ii) by inhalation.	(ii) All animals up to 1 kg bodyweight except reptiles, diving birds and diving mammals.
(iii) by immersion.	(iii) Fishes Amphibia up to 250 g bodyweight.
(Followed by destruction of the brain in cold-blooded vertebrates and by exsanguination or by dislocation of the neck, in warm-blooded vertebrates except where rigor mortis has been confirmed).
2. Dislocation of the neck.	Rodents up to 500 g bodyweight other than guinea-pigs.
(Followed by destruction of the brain in fishes).	Guinea-pigs and lagomorphs up to 1 kg in bodyweight.
	Birds up to 3 kg bodyweight.
	Fishes up to 250 g bodyweight.
3. Concussion by striking the back of the head.	Rodents up to 1 kg bodyweight.
	Birds up to 250 g bodyweight. Fishes.
(Followed by exsanguination or dislocation of the neck in rodents and birds and destruction of the brain in fishes).
4. Decapitation followed by destruction of the brain	Cold-blooded vertebrates.
5. Exposure to carbon dioxide in a rising concentration using a suitable technique followed by exsanguination or by dislocation of the neck except where rigor mortis has been confirmed.	Rodents over 10 days of age up to 1½ kg bodyweight.
	Birds over 1 week of age up to 3 kg bodyweight.

1. Overdose of anaesthetic suitable for the species—
(i) by injection.	(i) All animals.
(ii) by immersion.	(ii) Fishes Amphibia.
2. Decapitation.	Mammals.").