Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the effect of social distancing measures for covid-19 on the staffing of animal testing laboratories, what steps she plans to take to ensure that euthanasia of animals in those laboratories occurs (a) as a last resort and (b) after adoption and relocation of those animals has been explored.

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.