§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Hewitt) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
In July 2004, in the paper Animal Welfare, Human Rights—Protecting People from Animal Rights Extremists, the Government announced that they were considering the possibility of making it an offence to cause economic damage to the suppliers of Firms or research groups engaged in the legitimate and licensed use of animals for research purposes. Since then the Government have consulted industry and other groups in developing proposals.
The Government intend to table amendments to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. before the Report stage of the Bill, scheduled for 7 February. These will create two new offences, interference with contractual relationships so as to harm an animal research organisation, and intimidation of persons connected with animal research organisations.