The government responded very positively yesterday to an e-petition which asked the Prime Minister to ‘demonstrate support for animal research’ (we blogged on this e-petition last February). The response ran to over 450 words. It even thanked signatories: ‘Thank you for signing the e-petition calling for continued support for animal research’ and welcomed ‘the support this petition voices concerning research and testing using animals in this country.’
The main message of the response was to recognise the need for animal research to make advances in medicine:
‘The Government’s policy on the use of animals in scientific procedures is clear and straightforward. There is still a need for the responsible use of animals for experimental and other scientific purposes to continue if improvements in healthcare and veterinary treatment are to be developed with the minimum of delay and to make proper provision to protect man and the environment from health risks and other hazards.
Our health and that of our families depends on society finding cures for the health problems and diseases that currently reduce the quality of life of millions of people around the world and condemn many to an early death. We all expect to be protected from potentially harmful substances in the home and workplace and want the countryside and wildlife to be protected from environmental pollution.’
The first paragraph is identical to the response to a previous antivivisection e-petition, which got 2,215 signatures and closed in May last year.
The second part of yesterday’s response related to strong regulation of animal research in the UK and the government’s strong support for replacement, reduction and refinement and particularly the National Centre for the Three Rs. Again, this included similar sentiments to those in the response to the antivivisection e-petition. It repeated:
‘… it is unrealistic, and would raise false hopes, to set a date by which it will be feasible to phase out animal use before scientific progress provides the means to do so.’
