Antivivisection groups have long argued that animal research is perpetuated only by powerful groups with vested interests. A typical quote is that from Peter Hamilton of the Vancouver-based animal rights group Lifeforce: ‘the multi-billion dollar research, drug and chemical industries are entrenched in animal research for economic, legal and political reasons’.

Despite the supposed struggle against these powerful lobby groups acting in conspiracy, it was not that long ago that antivivisection groups in the UK were relatively optimistic. For example, in their newsletter of Summer 2000, the National Anti Vivisection Society boldly proclaimed that ‘the days of animal experimentation are numbered’.

It is no doubt to the dismay of those same antivivisection groups that the government recently revealed in a Parliamentary question by Mr Hancock that ...

it has contributed £45,000 to the cost of leaflets to raise general public awareness about how medicines are developed. The leaflet, titled Where do medicines come from, covers the use of animals in medicines research and testing, as well as clinical trials and licensing. It will be available for patients in around 60 per cent of general practitioner surgeries in England from autumn 2007

So now the government is joining the pharmaceutical companies - so hated by the antivivisectionists - to explain the role of animals in research. Along with, of course, universities, medical research charities, patient groups, medical organisations, biotechnology companies, research councils, independent research institutes, learned societies, regulatory bodies, trade unions, many environmental groups and pretty much any other organisation concerned with science or health you can think of.

There comes a point when we have to ask; if so many people are in on a conspiracy, is it really a conspiracy any longer?