Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of occasions animal testing laboratories have been compelled to euthanise animals because staff are (a) working from home, self-isolating, sick or furloughed and (b) as a result of reduced demand for testing; and what guidance her Department has issued in this respect.

Each establishment licence holder has the responsibility at all times for the welfare of the animals within their establishment, which includes ensuring appropriate level of staffing for the care of the animals held. The Home Office has made clear that establishments should continue to document the processes used and decisions made to comply with licences held under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. Establishment animal care and welfare staff, named people and scientists are, within the Government measures, able to attend work as required to fulfil their duties.

The Home Office does not hold information on, nor does it estimate, the number of occasions that laboratory animals have been euthanised as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, neither is information held regarding the reduction in demand for animals.