HC Deb 20 July 1978 vol 954 cc314-6W
Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 were performed on living animals in British zoos during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and, if so, at which zoos.

Dr. Summerskill

There were no such experiments.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what species of living animals were used in LD 50 experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and on what date the Advisory Committee's report of the LD 50 test will be published.

Dr. Summerskill

Information is not available about the species of animals used in experiments of this type for the years 1975 and 1976. Statistics of acute toxicity experiments of all kinds performed in 1977 will be published within the next few months. We expect to receive the advisory committee's report later this year and will arrange for it to be published as soon as possible thereafter.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he will publish the Return of Experiments on Living Animals, performed in Great Britain under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1977.

Dr. Summerskill

Within the next few months.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 have been performed on living animals since the last Royal Commission on Vivisection reported in 1912.

Dr. Summerskill

In the years 1913–76 inclusive, 131 million. Figures for 1977 will be published within the next few months.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any living animals were used in motor accident research in experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and, if so, what species were used in these experiments.

Dr. Summerskill

No experiments specific to this purpose have been carried out.

Mr. Arthur Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many commercial laboratories are registered to perform experiments on living animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Dr. Summerskill

128.

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