Laboratory animals are treated better than old people in care homes and hospitals, a leading scientist said yesterday, as the Home Office announced a consultation on transparency about animal research.

Professor Roger Lemon, a neuroscientist at University College London, said scientists recognised the need to disclose details on animal experiments.

“Many of our animals are looked after a lot better than people in old people’s homes and hospitals,” he said. “We want to explain to the public the quality of welfare animals receive in British laboratories.”

The review, announced by the Home Office minister Norman Baker yesterday, will focus on Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which some campaign groups have labelled the “secrecy clause”. At present the Home Office releases overall