HC Deb 25 May 1982 vol 24 c264W
Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the statistics of experiments on live animals for 1981.

Mr. Raison

Publication is not expected before the end of the summer, but will be as soon as practicable.

Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, now the full text of the draft Council of Europe convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes has been finalised, he will bring forward legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Mr. Raison

Although agreement has now been reached by the ad hoc committee of experts on a substantial part of the draft convention, some matters remain to be settled and the complete draft will then have to be adopted by the Committee of Ministers. It is still too soon to say when it will be possible for the Government to bring forward proposals for legislation.