Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the effect of covid-19 on the running of animal laboratories, if she will hold discussions with owners of animal laboratories to ensure that an assessment of the potential merits of (a) adoption and (b) relocation of laboratory animals is carried out prior to decisions being taken to euthanise those animals.

This Government encourages all establishments that are licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (1986) (ASPA) to consider the re-homing of animals used in scientific research, whether by adoption or relocation, when it is in the best interests of the welfare of the animal, when there is no risk to public or animal health, or risk to the environment. The re-homing policy is published at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/660241/Advice_Note_Rehoming_setting_free.pdf.

All establishments have been contacted by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit to be reminded of their responsibilities under ASPA, which have not changed during the covid-19 outbreak, and include the consideration of re-homing.