HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1016-8W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in the report of July 2002 by the House of Lords Select Committee on the use of animals in scientific procedures; and if he will make a statement. [140045]

Caroline Flint

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are to establish national research on the replacement of animals in basic medical research. [133349]

Caroline Flint

[holding answer 22 October 2003]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to enhance the status of alternative research to replace animal experiments. [133350]

Caroline Flint

[holding answer 22 October 2003]: The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available.

Much importance is already attached to alternatives research, both by Government (including public service research funding bodies) and the scientific research community. The latter has considerable incentive to develop replacements for the use of animals, and has an impressive track record in doing so. Responsibility for further progress continues to rest primarily with the researchers themselves, as they try to overcome the technical limitations of those systems and methodologies still dependent upon animal use. The Government will continue their efforts to support that, with the added focus and impetus provided by the various related recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures, the Government response to which has been well reported.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research; and what conclusions he has drawn. [133351]

Caroline Flint

[holding answer 22 October 2003]: The Government have not commissioned any research into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research and has no current plans to do so. However, we have not ruled out such research, should it become relevant to our consideration of the need for a United Kingdom centre for research into the alternatives.

Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to encourage alternatives to animal testing for medical research. [133541]

Caroline Flint

The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available. Every year the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) a budget aimed at developing or promoting the use of alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used, or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering (the 3Rs). Work aimed at improving the environmental conditions in which laboratory animals are kept and transported has also been sponsored. The amount made available to the Committee for 2003–04 for this specific purpose is £280,000.

This is not the only money spent by the Government on alternatives, other Departments also fund such work. It is estimated that the total spent by the United Kingdom Government is between £2 million and £10 million each year. Industry also spends many millions of pounds each year on the search for and development of alternatives.

We also support international initiatives, including the work of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). The Chief Inspector of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate is now the United Kingdom representative on the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee and is contributing to discussions about the future direction of ECVAM's work. The Chief Inspector and other members of the Inspectorate also participated last year in the Fourth World Congress on alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, in New Orleans, which the Home Office co-sponsored.