Tim Biscoe
University of Bristol

Ann Silver
University of Cambridge

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.106.6a

We write to remind Members of the great help given to the Society by Tam Dalyell MP who died on 26 January 2017. He was the Labour Party shadow spokesman on science during the progress through parliament of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act, which replaced the Act of 1876 under which we all did experiments. At the same time there was a long debate at the Council of Europe on the issues. So the times were very lively. The Physiological Society, having roots in 1876 in the arguments about animal experiments, was concerned to be involved in decisions that would affect the activities of the members. So also were other biologists, especially perhaps the Pharmacologists. For many years since then he has been involved representing us in discussions with the Home Office and with the EU.

Those of us involved in the Palace of Westminster with the arguments about the potential legislation became known to Tam, and he was a wonderful guide to the procedures. We were all naïve and learned from him. The Society members chiefly involved were Denis Noble (initially), Ann Silver, Cecil Kidd, Jim Pascoe, Bernard Ginsborg, Tim Biscoe, Tony Angel and several others. Our role was to write draft speeches especially for Tam, but also for the MPs; to attend briefing meetings in one of the small rooms off Westminster Hall; to attend the Parliamentary sessions where the issues were discussed, in particular during the Committee stage; to respond to issues arising in those meetings, and so on. At every step Tam Dalyell was there advising, arguing and presenting the case for us. We could not have had a better advocate. At one point he demonstrated the difference between a rabbit and a mouse, an issue that had arisen out of the ignorance of our opponents.

One of our opponents wrote to Jim Callaghan, leader of the party, and requested that Tam Dalyell be disciplined and removed from the debates. Naturally we responded to point out how ludicrous was such a suggestion coming from someone with no argument to support himself. So Tam remained within the argument and on our side. He was for us a fearless advocate and stood up to be counted about the importance of science over decades when others quailed. The world is a lesser place without him, for he was a good man.