§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he does not publish the number of experiments performed upon living animals for experimental purposes on behavioural research;
(2) why he does not publish the number of experiments performed on living animals under the 1876 Act for the purposes of industrial chemicals;
(3) why he does not publish the proportion of all toxicity testing in connection with experiments on living animals performed under the LD50 procedure;
(4) why he does not publish the number of experiments on living animals for testing the effect of pesticides on men or animals;
(5) why he does not publish the number of licensees under the 1876 Act who are classified as technicians;
(6) why he does not break down the number of experiments performed upon living animals to show the number involved in the testing of cosmetics and toiletries.
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§ Dr. SummerskillThese statistics are not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. They are not required for the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are being made to reduce the number of experiments performed upon living animals.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have been asked to reply.
I am advised by the Medical Research Council that scientists avoid wherever possible the use of live animals in experiments. In its internal establishment code the council urges all members of its staff to use procedures not involving animals wherever possible and it reports the development of alternative techniques in a number of fields.