HC Deb 15 November 1966 vol 736 cc65-6W
Mr. Kitson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of live animals under experiment in Home Office registered experimental centres at the latest convenient date; how many of these animals were on feeding trials; and how many were being used for cancer research.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I regret that this information is not available. Information is collected annually from each person licensed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, about the number of experiments he has performed under the Act in the calendar year. The total number of experiments performed in 1965 was 4,751,060, of which 358,310 were carried out in the course of cancer research. Licensees are not required to report separately the number of experiments which involve feeding trials.