Government gives guarantee over animal experiments

Yesterday in Parliament I  secured assurances that the UK Government would block EU plans for animal torture.
 An obscure European Union Directive (2010/63/EU) had threatened to removal of the British ban on using stray catsand dogs in painful laboratory experiments.

After Roydon resident Louise Jackson contacted me on Twitter, I promised that I would look into this and urge the Government to stand up to the Brussels bureaucrats.

I contacted Ministers formally about the issue, and also raised it directly on the floor of the House of Commons.
You can see a video of my question to the Government here
The full exchange was:
RobertHalfon (Harlow): Can we have an urgent statement on the European Union and animal experiments? My constituent Louise Jackson is concerned about a new EU directive which will scrap the historic protection that Britain has granted to stray cats and dogs, stopping them being used in laboratory experiments. Losing a pet is distressing, but the idea that it could end up in someone’s lab is unacceptable. Will my right hon. Friend urge the Government to stand up to Europe on the issue?
 Sir George Young (Leader of the House of Commons): Like other hon. Members, I have had representations from constituents who share the concern referred to by my hon. Friend. I can give him a CATEGORICAL ASSURANCE that the UK does not allow the use of stray dogs and cats in animal experiments. We do not envisage any circumstances in which the use of stray animals could be justified in future.
I was pleased to get assurances from the Government that they won't cave into Brussels over animal torture.

“This is an outrageous EU directive. It has no place in a civilised society - especially when you think that a stray cat or dog could be a lost family pet. In fact, I am coming round to the view that all animal experiments should bestopped except for severe medical cases.
I was glad that Louise Jackson got in touch with me. If you are a Harlow resident and want to let me know your views, please write to me athalfon4harlow@roberthalfon.com

VIDEO: the EU should stop encouraging animal torture

Today I asked a question in Parliament (see the video above) urging the UK Government to stand up to the bureaucrats in Brussels, and keep long-standing British protections for stray cats and dogs.

As outrageous as it may seem, an obscure EU directive is actually encouraging animal torture, by trying to scrap these protections - even though a stray cat or dog could just be a lost family pet, who has gone missing. The scandal was brought to my attention by Harlow constituent Louise Jackson, on twitter - during the recent England football match.

I have already contacted Ministers about this formally, on her behalf, but was pleased to receive assurances today in the House of Commons from Cabinet Minister Sir George Young that Britain won't stand for any of this EU nonsense. This kind of thing has no place in a civilised society.

by Robert Halfon MP - Working Hard for Harlow.

Is your Pooch a telly addict?

According to reports, now dogs are apparently addicted to digital Television, because of the faster frames. Apparently the old analogue TV was to slow for their brains to handle.

The main worry is that dogs will become obese as they refuse to go for walks, because Eastenders is on, or even Channel Four News.

You can read more here in the Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027269/Dogs-addicted-digital-TV-4-legged-friends-square-eyes.html

As the saying goes, you couldn't make it up.
Rob Halfon
halfon4harlow@roberthalfon.com