Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will provide an update on cross-departmental plans to phase-out animal testing in the UK.

The Government has committed to partnering with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the requirements for phasing out of animal testing, and supporting the uptake and development of approaches that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs).

We are currently engaging with partners from sectors with interests in animal science and on a cross Government level as to how we will take this commitment forward, including the publishing of a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. We expect to publish this strategy later this year.