§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that no species of octopus other than octopus vulgaris should be used for scientific procedures in Great Britain which might cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.
§ Mr. Charles Wardle[holding answer 8 March 1994]: No. The Animal Procedures Committee considered in 1993 whether cephalopods were sufficiently sentient to justify extension to them of the protection for laboratory 416W animals provided by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. My right hon. and learned Friend accepted the majority view of the committee that octopus vulgaris alone might meet this test.