HC Deb 19 June 1969 vol 785 cc134-5W
59. Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made with the application of cell, tissue and organ cultures in medical research as alternatives to experiments on live animals licensed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Some notable advances have been made in the use of such alternatives, for example in the study of drugs and hormones and in toxicity tests of pesticides; but the use of experimental animals will continue to be essential in the foreseeable future for certain kinds of research. The M.R.C. is willing to consider giving financial support to promising lines of investigation into alternatives.