PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Animal Experiments (22 July 2021)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether she plans to (a) review and (b) decrease the use of (i) rats and (ii) other live animals in testing procedures.

Asked by:
Fleur Anderson (Labour)

Answer

In the UK, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulates the use of animals in science and the regulator only authorises the use of animals in science where there are no alternatives and only to the minimum degree needed to meet the scientific research objectives and gain the benefit from the research.

The Government is committed to supporting the development of new approaches and technologies such as computer models and complex cell cultures that reduce the use of laboratory animals. This is primarily delivered by the NC3Rs which has made awards of over £100M for research and innovation to find alternatives which either replace or reduce the use of animals or improve their welfare.


Answered by:
Amanda Solloway (Conservative)
9 September 2021

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.