§ Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new steps he is taking to promote the use of alternatives to living animals in scientific experiments.
§ Mr. MellorLicensees are regularly reminded of the need to consider using alternatives to live animals. The reminder has recently been strengthened and expanded, and a reference to the fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments (FRAME) has been included, with the fund's agreement, to give practical help in the choice and use of alternatives. The reminder now reads as follows:
"CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT 1876
It is a matter of great public concern that the use of living animals for scientific experiments should be limited to the minimum compatible with the pursuit of legitimate scientific ends. The Government brings to the attention of all those carrying out experiments under authorities granted under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 the importance of taking every reasonable step to confirm before using living animals that their investigations cannot be effectively carried out by an alternative non-sentient means. To this end it is reasonable to expect that they will consult the available scientific literature and seek the advice of colleagues who may be able to assist, and the Government urges them to take these precautions. Licensees under the Act are also urged to give thought to the possibilities of developing new non-sentient alternatives to the use of living animals and to publishing information about successful new methods so that other licensees may be encouraged and helped to reduce the use of animals. The Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) is an organisation which was formed to further the development and use of non-sentient alternatives, and from which information may be obtained. FRAME can be contacted at 5b The Poultry, Bank Place, Nottingham NG1 2JR (telephone number 0602 584740). It is one of the general principles of the draft Council of Europe Convention on the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes that non-sentient alternatives to animals should be used whenever practicable and the Government's proposals for new legislation follow this principle.The revised form of reminder has been sent with their licences to all new licensees since 8 June 1984. All licensees will receive a copy when they are sent the forms for their annual statistical returns in December 1984.