§ Mr. Merchantasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it remains his policy to prohibit the use of animals for the practice of microsurgical skills; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorIt is the Government's intention, as set out in paragraph 32(3) of the White Paper 'Scientific Procedures on Living Animals' (Cmnd. 9521), to make provision in new legislation to permit the use of live animals where necessary for the practice of microsurgery, subject to strict controls. The Home Secretary's permission will be required in every case, and he will give it only to qualified surgeons working on approved microsurgical courses, and using only rodents which are anaesthetised throughout the procedure and killed before the animal can recover consciousness.