VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Animal Experiments

Asked by Pippa HeylingsLiberal DemocratDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 24 December 2025UIN 100694

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to set out the strategy’s priority areas for the targeted replacement of animal tests.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

The Government’s new strategy sets out our long-term vision for a world where the use of animals in science is eliminated in all but exceptional circumstances, achieved by creating a research and innovation system that drives the development and validation of alternative methods to using animals in science. We will provide regular updates on strategy delivery including through a publicly available dashboard. Recognising that the legal framework in the UK already requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no validated alternatives available, the government currently has no plans to legislate further on this matter.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim