Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce the prevalence of tail docking on pigs.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department has recently engaged with the Pig Veterinary Society and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to reduce the prevalence of pig tail docking by working with the industry and the veterinary profession. Defra is now carefully considering the appropriate next steps, including the possibility of developing further guidance.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has considered whether the relationship between the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and Understanding Animal Research (UAR), including NC3Rs’ sponsorship of UAR activities, ensures adequate levels of (a) balance and (b) engagement with relevant stakeholders, in the context of animal protection organisations not being included in NC3R organised events.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The NC3Rs does not sponsor UAR activities beyond being a signatory and participant in the UK Concordat on Openness on Animal Research which is managed by UAR.

The NC3Rs works with a range of relevant stakeholders across the life sciences sector, including animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, to ensure balance and engagement in its programmes of work to advance the 3Rs.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the level of public funding allocated to (a) animal-based research and (b) non-animal New Approach Methodologies in the last five years.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests to support research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ-on-a-chip, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These are categorised as basic research, so calculating funding for New Approach Methodologies specifically is not possible. The Government has announced £75m of funding to accelerate alternatives and innovation, with new capabilities being developed across the UK. UKRI also invests in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).