HC Deb 27 November 1981 vol 13 cc480-1W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 18 November, what action he has taken on the reports about experiments on living animals which have been prepared in the last three years.

Mr. Raison

Statistics of experiments on living animals are presented annually to Parliament for information. The recommendations of the advisory committee on the LD50 Test have been brought to the attention of all registered places where experiments are carried out, for the guidance of licensees engaged in this work; a standard condition is now attached to all licences giving effect to the recommendation about primates; a uniform code of laboratory practice on toxicity testing is under consideration; and closer liaison between the Home Office and other Departments concerned with the use of toxic substances is being developed. The report of the advisory committee on the framework of new legislation will be taken fully into account by the Government when formulating their own proposals.