Context
The question arises from ongoing efforts to reduce the use of animals in scientific research, highlighting the importance for constituents who care deeply about animal welfare.
Question
What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the use of animal testing in research. The reduction and ultimate ending of the need to use animals for testing purposes is an important policy objective of my animal-loving constituents in Romford. Does the Minister agree that animals are not laboratory tools but sentient creatures, and that the policy of replacement, reduction and refinement must be at the core of Government policy going forward?
Answer from Andrew Griffith
The Minister is committed to supporting the strategy for replacement, reduction and refinement. Since taking office, investment in non-animal methods has been doubled to £20 million. This summer, a joint plan with the Home Office will be published to accelerate the uptake of non-animal research methods.
Not addressed: The specific ask about agreement on animals as sentient creatures and core policy was not directly addressed.
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