§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are employed by his Department to ensure compliance with the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; how many experiments which are liable to inspection under the Act were carried out in each of the last three years; whether he has any plans to increase the number of inspectors; and, if not, whether he is satisfied that the present establishment of inspectors is adequate.
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§ Dr. Summerskill:As can be seen from the detailed figures given in Table 1 of Experiments on Living Animals 1976, House of Commons Paper No. 1, Session 1977–78, the total number of experiments on living animals in each of the years 1974 to 1976 was approximately 5½ million. The majority of experiments are concentrated in a small number of establishments and this facilitates effective inspection by the 14 members of the Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate. The number of inspectors is kept under regular review but must have regard to the necessary restraints on manpower in the public services.