§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will apply the code of practice for the Housing and Care of Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to breeding establishments;
(2) if he will bring forward proposals for stricter controls of the standards for the housing and care of animals in breeding, supply and research establishments.
§ Mr. Charles WardleWe have no current plans for amending the Home Office code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures or for applying the code as it stands to breeding and supplying establishments. However, we are considering whether the guidelines issued by the Laboratory Animal Breeders Association, currently used by the Home Office inspectorate in respect of breeding and supplying establishments should, updated as necessary, be given a more formal basis in the context of the operation of the 1986 Act.