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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the interdepartmental group on the 3Rs to report on the recommendation, contained in the House of Lords' report on the use of animals in scientific procedures, that an administration centre for the 3Rs be set up. [116190] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In our response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures, published on 20 January 2003 (Cm 5729), the Government agreed to explore further the recommendation that a centre should be set up for research into the 3Rs--advanced methods which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering. The Interdepartmental Group on the 3Rs, led by the Home Office and comprising members from the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of Science and Technology, the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies, has been tasked with taking this forward. I expect to receive a progress report on its findings in the autumn.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

116190; 406 c809W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Animal welfare Administration Animal experiments Offices Research Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk