§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the ways in which patient groups can play a greater role in explaining the benefits of animal experiments; [134178]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 683W, on labelling, what plans he has to introduce a system of labelling of medicines to indicate they have been tested on animals; and if he will make a statement. [131976]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 24 October 2000]: My noble Friend, The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, explained to my hon. Friend on 25 July that we fully support the need to raise public awareness of the benefits of animal testing. The Medical Research Council has recently published a booklet, "Mice and Medicine", on animal experiments and medical advances, copies of which are available in the Library. The joint industry/Government Pharmaceutical Industry Competitiveness Task Force is also considering the wider issue as part of its work on animal research. We also will be examining what enhanced role patient groups can play in raising public awareness in this area.
In view of these developments, and for reasons explained in the answers given on 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 760W, 5 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W and 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 170W, we have no plans to introduce a labelling system for medicines to indicate they have been tested on animals. Such a system would require an amendment to European law and, even if permitted, there will not be the space on most labels to explain the necessity for animal testing in the interests of protection of public health.