§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress being made in the revision of the Annual Return of Experiments on Living Animals.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesA pilot study was launched at the end of last year and I hope at the end of this year to be in a position to require from holders of licences under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 a report containing considerably more detailed information about the types and purposes of experiments performed during 1977. If all goes well we should be in a position to publish a greatly 145W improved annual return in the summer of next year.
§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek the guidance of the Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 about the LD50 test to determine what dose would result in the death of half the animals to which it was administered.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMy hon. Friend the Minister of State announced in the Adjournment debate on 13th January that I had decided to seek such guidance. As my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) will probably appreciate, the Advisory Committee is likely to take some time before arriving at a recommendation, but I am sure it will try to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.