Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to (a) promote and (b) support animal-free research; and what initiatives the Government provides to help increase funding for animal-free research research methods.

The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science and we are engaging with the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities on how to take this commitment forward.

A significant part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding supports the development of alternative methods such as microphysiological systems, (eg.organ-on-a-chip and organoid platforms) and in silico models, eg. artificial intelligence (AI). The Government also currently invests £10m annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to accelerate the development and adoption of non-animal approaches.