(2) by what date he estimates that all British animal research and breeding establishments will be compliant with the revised Appendix A to the Council of Europe Convention ETS 123.
Council of Europe Convention ETS 123 makes provision for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. The UK Government have signed and ratified the Convention.
In implementing the Convention, parties are required to have regard to the guidelines for the accommodation and care of protected animals set out in Appendix A to the Convention. A revised Appendix A, to which the UK Government made a significant contribution, was adopted in June 2006.
The Home Office has actively advised those seeking to commission, refurbish, operate and equip animal facilities to have regard to the revised Appendix A guidelines in their planning, policies and practices both as the new provisions emerged during the revision process and following their formal adoption. In addition, we have widely circulated a note for users, prepared by the Animal Procedures Committee, explaining the key features of the revised Appendix. Work has also begun on amending the current Home Office Codes of Practice to take account of its revised provisions.
As a result of the actions we have taken so far, we are already seeing the revised guidelines reflected in United Kingdom practice. However, it is not possible to estimate by what precise date all animal research and breeding establishments will be fully compliant. Further information on the relevant transitional arrangements and timescales will be set out in the revised Codes of Practice which we aim to publish in 2008 after the requirements for consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny, set out in sections 21(3) and 21(5), respectively, of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, have been met.