The European Commission proposal for a draft directive for the protection of animals used in scientific procedures to replace Directive 86/609/EEC was published in November 2008. My hon. Friend Meg Hillier met the All Party Parliamentary FRAME Group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) earlier in 2009 to discuss aspects of the draft directive. Home Office officials have also met with a wide and representative cross-section of relevant stakeholder groups to discuss its provisions and we are now holding a public consultation on the proposal to inform the Government's negotiating position. The consultation closes on 3 July 2009.