§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will undertake research into electric immobilisation devices to assess their compliance with the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1964
§ Mr. MellorNo. Experiments assessing the effect of this technique, if they may cause pain, require my right hon. Friend's licence under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. He does not himself fund or conduct such experiments. I understand, however, that proposals for a research project into the effects of using this technique, mainly in relation to the welfare of farm animals, are being considered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.