§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will permit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to carry out an independent examination of the experiments involving animals at Porton Down.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward regulations for the control of experiments on animals in his Department's establishments.
§ Mr. LeeNo. Legislation governing experiments on living animals is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He published a White Paper containing the Government's proposals for new legislation last May and has made it clear that this will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits. All experiments with animals in my Department's establishments comply fully with the requirements of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, and are undertaken under licence granted by the Home Office.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence from what sources his Department secures animals for experiments carried out at Porton Down.
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§ Mr. LeeAll animals used in experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, are either bred on the establishment or purchased from reputable suppliers.