Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a response to Early Day Motion 674 on Animals in Scientific Research and transition to new approach methodologies.

This Government is committed to the development of non-animal technologies. Such technologies have the potential to reduce the reliance on the use of animals, improve the efficiency of drug research and development and to deliver safer, cheaper, and more effective medicines to patients. We continue to actively support and fund the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs).

At this current point in time, the availability of non-animal technologies does not allow us to transition away from the use of animals in science and testing. The use of animals in science supports the development of new medicines, safety testing and cutting-edge medical technologies, for humans and animals, as well as the safety and sustainability of our environment.

Where animals have to be used they are protected under law. No animal testing may be conducted if there is a non-animal alternative available, where only the minimum numbers are used to achieve the likely expected benefit and only the minimum suffering caused.