There can be few areas of scientific research which have been subject to so much public debate and scrutiny, as well as detailed scientific investigation, as the use of animals in research.

Today we see the publication of yet another in-depth enquiry - the report of the Weatherall Committee into The Use of Non-Human Primates in Research. Like all the other enquiries before it, this one concludes that there is a strong scientific case for the carefully regulated use of animals in research - in this case non-human primates.

Will the animal rights groups take any notice of this report? We barely need to ask the question. They will never accept the results of any enquiry unless it gives them the answer they want (ie total abolition of animal research) - and that is unlikely for the foreseeable future.