§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will withdraw all financial resources from any animal experiments where there is an alternative solution.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who is the licensing authority for animal experiments, advises licensees never to undertake animal experiments if a satisfactory and practicable alternative means is available. I am confident that licensees funded by the DHSS heed this advice.
Under new arrangements proposed in the Government's White Paper "Scientific Procedures on Living Animals", licences for projects involving procedures in animals will be granted only if the licensing authority is expressly satisfied that no other scientifically satisfactory method is available to the applicant. Legislation to achieve this and other changes to present arangements will be needed. We consider our White Paper proposals to be a practical means of achieving the effect that the hon. Member is seeking.