§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of animal experiments relating to behavioural neuroscience;[99788]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of non-animal neurological research to replace animal experimentation. [99789]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Government believe that animal based research still has an important part to play in research relating to the biomedical sciences. Neurological diseases and disorders remain major sources of human morbidity and mortality. Their impact is felt by individuals, their families, and society in general. Notwithstanding progress that has been made with understanding the causes and identifying possible treatments, there remains an urgent need to find better methods of preventing and treating conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and mental health problems. This requires the identification and use of the best current scientific technologies, not simply a reliance on animal research.
To meet section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, any application to use protected animals in research must be subjected to a detailed cost/benefit assessment by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. This is undertaken on a case by case basis. The reliability and relevance of all animal models requested are key considerations in the cost/ benefit assessment and the Secretary of State looks to a number of sources, including Home Office inspectors and the Animal Procedures Committee, to provide advice not only relating to programmes of work, but also relating to technical developments that enable animal models to be reduced, refined and replaced. Licence authorities are only granted when there is no 958W replacement alternative, and when all relevant and reasonable steps have been taken to identify and incorporate relevant reduction and refinement strategies.