Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Wednesday, 31 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 April 2004. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 April 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what cost/benefit analysis has been conducted regarding animal experimentation. - Inc ref to appendix I of Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321).

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cost/benefit analysis has been conducted regarding animal experimentation. [165891] Caroline Flint: The Home Office has not itself conducted a general cost/benefit analysis regarding animal experimentation. Various competent bodies have considered whether animal experimentation is valid and justified, including the Animal Procedures Committee and the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures. They have concluded, in line with the consensus within the scientific community, that there is a continuing need for animal research and testing. A form of cost benefit assessment of individual programmes of work has to be undertaken before the Home Office grants licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to authorise the use of animals. Such licences can accordingly only be granted where, among other considerations, the likely benefits of the work are expected to outweigh the welfare costs to the animals involved. No animal procedures are therefore lawfully carried out which have not been fully justified. More information about the statutory cost benefit assessment used in particular cases can be found at Appendix I of Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321).

Secondary information