Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to Question 200219 on Animal Experiments, whether her Department has a set a timeframe for ending the use of primates in scientific experiments.

Government funds research using animals and non-animal technologies, because the regulated and limited use of animals, including non-human primates, in scientific procedures currently remains necessary for understanding how biological systems work and the development of new medicines. UKRI funds research aimed at reducing or eliminating the use of animals in research, providing approximately £10m/pa for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. The NC3Rs leads a comprehensive programme focused on reducing the use of non-human primates in safety testing of pharmaceuticals. Government has not set a timeframe for ending the use of primates in research.