§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances downing is permitted as an acceptable or humane method for killing animals.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThere are no circumstances in which the drowning of a conscious animal would be accepted as humane. Drowning is not one of the methods of humane killing of laboratory animals listed in schedule 1 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. A scientific case would have to be made out before it could be authorised under section 5 of that Act.