Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and Andrew Griffith

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the use of animal testing in research.

[The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (Andrew Griffith)]

The day when we are able to eliminate animal testing cannot come quickly enough, though we are not there yet. We are committed to supporting the strategy to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research, and since taking office I have doubled the investment in non-animal methods of research to £20 million this year.

[Andrew Rosindell]

The reduction and ultimate ending of the need to use animals for testing purposes is an important policy objective of my animal-loving constituents in Romford. Does the Minister agree that animals are not laboratory tools but sentient creatures, and that the policy of replacement, reduction and refinement must be at the core of Government policy going forward?

[Andrew Griffith]

I know that this is an issue close to my hon. Friend’s heart. He is a great animal lover, and I recall his past work as shadow Minister for animal welfare. This summer we will publish a plan, together with colleagues in the Home Office, to accelerate the uptake of non-animal methods of research.