Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the growth of the human-specific technology sector.

The pace of technology in bioscience and AI is creating exciting opportunities to replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs). We are committed to support UK leadership in this field which we do primarily through funding from UKRI for the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). Since its launch, the NC3Rs has committed £100 million in research to develop new 3R technologies. £86million has already been invested with 73% on reducing use of animal testing. The UK HMG focus on AI & Engineering Biology as 2 of our 5 strategic technologies will also provide significant underpinning technological support for the acceleration of 3R technologies.