§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that such experiments to animals not directly related to human benefit are restricted: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 requires that every potentially painful animal experiment must be performed with a view to the advancement 101W by new discovrey of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful in saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering. My right hon. Friend has no power under the Act to restrict further the purposes for which such experiments may be performed. In fulfilling our pledge to introduce new legislation to update the 1876 Act we shall have regard both to the legitimate requirements of research and to the need to protect animals against avoidable suffering.