New Henley MP says rise in animal testing under Labour is "unacceptable"
The new Conservative MP for Henley, John Howell, has told the BUAV that "a 15 per cent rise in the number of living animals used in scientific procedures since 2001 is unacceptable and the Home Office has shown scant regard for this spiralling trend."
Mr Howell, who was elected as the MP for Henley on 26th June, responded to a letter from the BUAV's Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, asking for a statement of his views on animal experimentation.
He said2: "I am deeply concerned that for a fifth consecutive year, [official Government] figures show that the number of animals used in scientific procedures has risen... it is clear that reform of the current legislation is needed..."
He added that the "The Conservative Party is also committed to tackling this issue where Labour has failed" and on the issue of household product tests using animals, he stated: "As for a ban on using animals to test household products, the Conservative Party is open to such a prospect but a final decision will not be taken until late June.
The BUAV is calling for a total ban on animal testing for household products and their ingredients throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. More than 165 MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion (EDM)3 calling for the Government to stop granting licences for animal testing for such purposes.
On Thursday 26 June the voters of Henley head to the polls to elect their new Member of Parliament.
The BUAV is campaigning to make sure that all of the candidates take animal experimentation seriously. Over three million animals are used in experiments every year — a 15-year high — and the majority of the public want to see their politicians supporting measures to bring these numbers down in a sustained way.
Animal welfare issues are often in the top two or three concerns of constituents, so the candidates will be aware of how important this issue is to voters. Many BUAV supporters have already written personally to the candidates to ask them for clear pledges of action.
We sent a short survey to each of the five main candidates to ask them whether they agreed with some short statements about animal experiments. Their responses are below.
Do you agree with the following statements? (Please indicate: 'strongly agree', 'agree', 'neutral', 'disagree', 'strongly disagree')
ConservativeJohn Howell |
GreenMark Stevenson |
LabourRichard McKenzie |
Liberal DemocratStephen Kearney |
UKIPChris Adams |
| Question 1: "It is not justifiable to use animals to test household products such as detergents or floor cleaners" | ||||
| Did not answer directly (see below) | I strongly agree | Did not answer directly (see below) | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
| Question 2: "It is not justifiable to cause substantial suffering to any animal in the laboratory" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
| Question 3: "Experiments on cats and dogs should be ended" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | Did not answer Commented: "why pick out cats and dogs?" |
Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
| Question 4: "The UK should lead the world in supporting and developing non-animal research, including financial incentives such as tax breaks and match-funding" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | I agree Commented: "in principle, but I do not really know enough" |
Did not answer directly | I agree | I agree |
| Question 5: "The Government should increase the cost of an animal research project licence and ring fence the additional money to finance the development of alternatives" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | I agree Commented: "in principle, but I do not really know enough" |
Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
| Question 6: "I would support the construction of a state-of-the-art non-animal research facility in Henley" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | Neutral Commented: "If Henley was the best place" |
Did not answer directly | I agree | Neutral Commented: "could be any location in South Oxon" |
| Question 7: "The Government should fully implement the Freedom of Information Act with regard to animal experimentation" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
| Question 8: "More should be done to reverse the increasing trend of animals used in experiments" | ||||
| Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | Did not answer directly | I strongly agree | I strongly agree |
Summary of responses (in alphabetical order by party)
Conservative – John Howell
John declined to answer the specific questions we put to him, but instead offered a summary of his views on animal experimentation. His response was identical to that received by Edward Timpson, the Conservative candidate in the recent Crewe & Nantwich by-election.
Following the recent High Court ruling which found that the licences given to scientists that allow them to carry out experiments on animals are being mislabelled, in addition to the news that the numbers of procedures have risen, I believe it is time to look closely at animal testing legislation to ensure that it is as robust as possible.
The Home Office recently released figures and statistics on the number of scientific procedures carried out on animals and I am deeply concerned that for a fifth consecutive year, these figures show that the number of animals used in scientific procedures has risen. In 2006, 3.01 million animals were used in scientific procedures, up 115,800 on the previous year. This figure represents the largest number of animals used in scientific testing, where a license is issued, for 15 years.
Under the existing guidelines, there is no way to cap the number of animals used in scientific testing. The current licensing system is demand led and the 1986 Act provides the Home Office with no mechanism, as regulator, to reduce the number of living animals used in scientific tests.
Scientific innovation, especially in the area of medical advancement, would suggest that as new technologies, treatments and procedures are developed, it is inevitable that animal testing will continue.
The Conservative Party is committed to the 3 'R's, Refinement, Reduction and Replacement. Specific and reliable alternatives are continually being developed and by using substitute procedures such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, micro-dosing and computer modelling, we are often able to produce the same results as those that may be otherwise gathered through live testing. We are dedicated to developing these and other new technologies further.
We must, in every circumstance, weigh the benefits to humans, other animals and the environment, against the cost to the animals involved. Accepting this, the Conservative Party is also committed to tackling this issue where Labour has failed. A 15 per cent rise in the number of living animals used in scientific procedures since 2001 is unacceptable and the Home Office has shown scant regard for this spiralling trend.
Striking a balance between the need for medical innovation and animal welfare is possible. It is clear that reform of the current legislation is needed.
As for a ban on using animals to test household products, the Conservative Party is open to such a prospect but a final decision will not be taken until later this summer.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Andrew Rosindell MP is in the early stages of reviewing the 1986 Act and is committed to substantially reducing the number of animals used in scientific procedures. I will send him a copy of your letter so that he can feed your views into his thinking on this very important subject.
Contact John directly: info@henleyconservatives.com
Green – Mark Stevenson
Mark either agreed or strongly agreed with all but two of the statements, although he did stress that in a few cases he felt he needed more information. Mark questioned why we had asked specifically about cats and dogs and declined to give a specific response; we asked specifically because we are aware that their use is of particular concern to constituents. If elected, Mark also committed to proactively promoting Henley as a centre for non-animal research "if appropriate", and to signing the BUAV's EDM 1215 which calls for a Government ban on the use of animals to test household products.
Contact Mark directly: mark@greenoxford.com
Labour – Richard McKenzie
Richard declined to answer the specific questions we put to him, but instead offered a summary of his views on animal experimentation. His response was identical to that received by Tamsin Dunwoody, the Labour candidate in the recent Crewe & Nantwich by-election.
However, Richard did also commit in a separate email to, if elected, making his constituency office cruelty-free using only non-animal tested cleaning products.
I think that the approach that best sums up my beliefs with regards to animal experimentation is that it should only be used where there is no alternative and there is a clear benefit to medical science. I am pleased that the Labour government outlawed testing on animals for cosmetic purposes and that we have some of the tightest regulation on how animal experiments should be carried out where they are necessary.
I understand that organisations that carry out experimentation must be licensed and subject to regular inspection. I support Labour's policy which aims to:
- Reduce the number of animals used in experiment,
- Refine techniques to minimise suffering and
- Replace with non-animal alternatives whenever possible.
I support increased transparency, prioritising non-animal science and alternate testing on household products where possible.
Contact Richard directly: Richard@richardmckenzie.org
Liberal Democrat – Stephen Kearney
Stephen responded that he either strongly agreed or agree with all of the statements we put to him. If elected he committed to proactively promoting Henley as a centre for non-animal research; making his constituency office cruelty-free, using only non-animal tested cleaning products; and to signing the BUAV's EDM 1215 which calls for a Government ban on the use of animals to test household products.
Contact Stephen directly: Stephen@henleylibdems.org.uk
UKIP – Chris Adams
Chris responded saying that he either agreed or strongly agreed with all of the statements we put to him, with a caveat over the location of any new non-animal research facilities in Henley.
Contact Chris directly: info@ukiphenley.org.uk
