What a surprise to have a letter of support ("A real champion", Mailbox, September 6). Many thanks to Eileen Howsin.

I assume Eileen is an animal lover and I am sure that she and others will be horrified at Government plans to adopt new EU rules that would allow newborn puppies, kittens, ferrets and fox cubs in British laboratories to be killed by a "concussion/percussive blow to the head".

Home Office officials comment that this method is "likely to be humane".

By proposing to allow this killing method, the Government is demonstrating that it is willing to ditch existing higher welfare standards in the UK and has no regard to respecting the ethical concerns of the public.

Approximately 3.5 million animals are used in experiments likely to cause "pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm" in the UK every year. So much for a nation of animal lovers!

For more information visit:

www.uncaged.co.uk

Mrs Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.