Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce the number of animals used for scientific procedures in higher education and training and (b) encourage organisations in that sector to seek replacements for the use of animals in those procedures.

The Home Office assures the minimum number of animals necessary are used for scientific procedures in higher education and training by the rigorous application of the 3Rs principles – replacement, reduction and refinement. Procedures on animals are only authorised after a rigorous assessment process, which is undertaken by the Home Office Inspectorate.

As part of the project licence application process, applicants are required to describe what steps they have taken to research non-animal alternative methodologies and why the use of animals is required to achieve their scientific objectives.