Lords debate on animals used for scientific purposes

• Video & Audio: watch the debate in the Lords Chamber
• Report: The revision of the EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
• House of Lords European Union Select Committee

The report, published by the House of Lords EU Committee last November, followed an inquiry into the proposed revision of the EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific procedures.

It raised concern that the proposal might fail to deliver the key objective of ensuring that welfare measures for animals used in scientific procedures should be applied consistently across the EU.

The Committee sees it as critical that there are effective arrangements for national inspection by Member States of sites where animals are used in scientific procedures.

To ensure that common standards are being applied, the Committee is in favour of the Commission playing a robust role in monitoring implementation of the Directive. These safeguards may not feature in the Directive that emerges from current negotiations.

Members of the Committee who are taking part in the debate include Lord Carter of Coles (Chairman), Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe and the Earl of Caithness.

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, emeritus professor of animal pathology at the University of Cambridge, will also speak.

Lord West of Spithead will speak on behalf of the Government.

Further information

• List of speakers - Lords Government Whips Office (external site)
• Lords Hansard - debate transcript available approximately three hours from the start of the debate
• Alphabetical list of Members of the Lords
• Parliamentary calendar