HC Deb 05 July 1978 vol 953 cc175-6W
Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table for each of the most recent convenient five years showing (a) the number of licences issued for experiments on live animals under the Security of Animals Act 1876, (b) the number of occasions on which such a licence was refused, (c) the number of certificates issued to permit such an experiment without anaesthetic, and (d) the number of occasions when such a certificate was refused.

Dr. Summerskill

The number of licences issued under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 in the years 1973–77 was as follows:

1973 2,110
1974 2,233
1975 3,129
1976 2,896
1977 3,104

aware of any special circumstances which suggest that I should call for a special report on the incident from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. If my hon. Friend has any particular points about the incident which he wishes to raise, I should of course be glad to consider them.