Government to keep animal testing secret 

     Laboratories doing experiments on animals are to receive
     an official exemption to keep details of their work secret. 

     Information about tests on new drugs and medical
     procedures will be withheld, even after the Freedom of
     Information Act becomes law, to protect laboratory
     workers from attacks by animal rights activists.
     Ministerial sources said yesterday that "protecting the
     personal security of scientists will be paramount". 

     The move follows hints from ministers that they may be
     prepared to use anti-terrorist information against
     activists who are violent towards scientists testing on
     animals. 

     But animal welfare groups fear that the Government is
     using threats from extremists as a "smokescreen" to
     withhold information about animal tests. 


     By Marie Woolf, Chief Political Correspondent 
     16 September 2000

     "Independent" - English broadsheet
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     "Perceptions" note:-

     Seekers-after-power are willing to promise
     'freedom of information' when campaigning.

     Test their integrity - by their actions in power.

     R J-D 

     --------------------------------------------------

              FURTHER REFERENCES

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