§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated in respect of cruelty inflicted on animals in the course of approved experiments for each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement. [33017]
§ Mr. George Howarth[holding answer 6 March 1998]: Prosecutions for such an offence would be instigated under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 offences of cruelty to animals. The Court Proceedings database, held centrally, can identify only the number of prosecutions brought under the Act irrespective of circumstances. However, further sources of information 203W suggest that there have been no prosecutions, in England and Wales, for cruelty to animals during the course of approved experiments.