Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Animal Testing

16 December 2021 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Margaret Ferrier SNP Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Environment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Margaret Ferrier raised concerns about animal testing in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Margaret Ferrier expressed concern over animal testing, advocating for alternatives and reforming legislation to prioritize animal-free methods.
  • The MP highlighted flaws in justifying current practices, emphasizing the need for rigorous checks against non-animal methods.
  • The Minister affirmed the UK's regulatory framework and defended the necessity of animal testing for scientific safety and innovation.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Margaret Ferrier SNP Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Margaret Ferrier expressed her deep concern for animal welfare, citing a high level of public support for phasing out animal testing in favour of alternatives. She questioned the morality and scientific necessity of current practices, highlighting flawed principles in justifying continued testing despite poor translation to human trials and lack of rigorous checks against non-animal methods. The MP emphasised the need for reforming legislation, increased funding towards developing alternative methods, and clearer government strategy to prioritise animal-free science. Ferrier also called for better oversight and data collection on unnecessary animal deaths at testing facilities.

Other contributors (1)
  • Tom Pursglove Con Corby

    Pursglove thanked Margaret Ferrier for the debate and acknowledged the strength of public feeling regarding animal welfare. He emphasised the importance of basing discussions on evidence, highlighting the balance between scientific benefits and animal welfare.

Government Response

Nigel Evans

The Minister affirmed the UK's robust regulatory framework for using animals in science under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which mandates the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement. He acknowledged the public desire to see progress on alternatives but argued that animal testing remains essential for safety and innovation, citing examples such as vaccine development and environmental protection. Evans refuted claims about unnecessary use or invalidity of data from animal tests, emphasising the need for continued research given current limitations in non-animal methods. The Minister committed to maintaining regulatory standards and investing in alternative techniques while stressing that robust checks are in place to minimise harm to animals used for scientific purposes.

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