§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the Government's intention to legislate in the area of animal experimentation prior to the ratification and signing of European directives on the matter.
§ Mr. MellorAnimal welfare is outside the remit of the European Community. There are, therefore, no European directives on the subject of animal experimentation, although a number of directives prescribe tests involving the use of live animals. The hon. Member may be referring to the draft Council of Europe convention on the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. I very much hope that the convention may be agreed and opened for signature in the near future, but the timing of this will not affect the Government's determination to introduce new legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 as soon as parliamentary time permits.