Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Department will consider conducting a review of the need for dogs across all areas of scientific research and testing.

Dogs are a specially protected species under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. They may only be used in research where the applicant demonstrates that the scientific objective cannot be achieved using a scientifically satisfactory non-animal method or by using another species. Every proposed programme of work is assessed by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) to assure that the use of animals is justified by the expected benefits, the minimum number of animals are used, and procedures are refined to minimise suffering.

The Government committed to accelerating the replacement of animals in science wherever scientifically possible. In November 2025, the Government published Replacing animals in science: a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, backed by £75 million in funding. The strategy includes specific commitments to reduce the use of dogs in science by 2030.