Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the non-technical summaries of project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 between January and June, what assessment they have made of the number of animals approved to be used in procedures over the next five years under those licences.

The Home Office is committed to ensuring that the use of animals in scientific research is strictly regulated and is only permitted where no suitable alternatives are available. In parallel, the Government is committed to working towards a vision of phasing out the use of animals in science. The Government will publish a strategy that describes how it will accelerate the development and uptake of alternative methods to animal research and testing later this year.