Government must help educate public on animal research or risk losing the battle with extremists, warns senior MP

9.35.40am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd May 2006

The new animal research lab is being constructed on South Parks Road, Oxford

Dr Evan Harris, Lib Dem Science Spokesman and member of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, is today demanding the Government takes more action to win the battle for hearts and minds over animal testing.

In an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall on 'The role of animal research in health care and medicines' Dr Harris will call for openness about the value of animal research in helping the NHS deliver high quality health care.

Dr Harris, who has been at the forefront of moves to defend the staff and research at the embattled Oxford lab, will call for:

• All medicines in the UK to be labelled "developed and tested using humane, carefully regulated research on animals" in order to improve public awareness of the real benefits of animal research and to allow real choice for those patients who have fundamental conscientious objections to vivisection.

• All press releases sent out by the Department of Health/NHS/MRC about clinical research (that using patients) findings and new treatments should make it clear what animal research underpinned drug or treatment development and testing - e.g. "this treatment/drug was developed from insights gained using transgenic mouse models and underwent toxicity testing in rats before proceeding to clinical trials in humans etc".

• Health Ministers to set an example to all NHS and clinical staff in promoting the contribution that animal research makes to modern medicine. He will draw attention to the lack of speeches by Health Secretaries on this subject.

"The Prime Minister spoke out in support of animal research when Huntingdon Life Sciences was brought to its knees a few years ago and after the successful conviction of animal rights extremists for outrageous offences but the rest of the time insufficient action is taken by the Government - or opposition parties for that matter - to actively explain the vital role of animal-based research in the development and testing of drugs and treatments.

"We label foodstuffs with nutritional content and any GM derivation, so why don't we insist that all pharmaceutical products are open about the role animal research has played in their development and testing. Some say that some patients will refuse treatment but that is their right and informed consent means that patients must be told all the relevant information to enable them to take a decision.

"Young people see creams and lotions and other cosmetics labelled 'no animal testing' and we are in danger of losing the battle for hearts and minds if it isn't explained that that approach is not yet possible when producing human medicines.

"There is a real danger of complacency over the battle with animal rights extremists based on a few arrests, a smaller number of prosecutions and the Oxford-based fight back against extremism but in the long run the propaganda of the anti-vivisection movement must be countered in Parliament, in school classrooms and in medicine cabinets."

Dr Harris points out that he has not found a speech by any Health Secretary since 1997 defending animal research or one by an International Development Secretary of Foreign Secretary pointing out the key role of animal research in finding safe and effective vaccines for scourges such as Smallpox, Polio, TB, Malaria and HIV.

END

Dr Evan Harris has secured an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 23rd May 2006 at 1:30-2pm entitled, 'the role of animal research in medicines and health care' which will be answered by Department of Health Minister for Delivery and Quality, Andy Burnham.

Dr Harris has tabled EDM 1850 in support of animal research and the Oxford Research Centre and has spoken out in favour of animal research on many platforms including speaking at the pro-animal research protest march organised by PRO-TEST on 25th February 2006.

EDM 1850

ANIMALS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH

20.03.2006

Harris, Evan

That this House notes that UK regulation of animal research is among the tightest in the world, that animal research is only permitted where there is no better alternative and that pain and suffering are minimised and balanced against the potential benefit to humans and animals; recognises that good facilities enable scientists to conduct world-class research, potentially leading to new treatments for a number of life-threatening diseases, including leukaemia, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease and that such research has already produced many lifesaving drugs including penicillin and other antibiotics, insulin for diabetes, chemotherapy for childhood leukaemia, and medicines for asthma, high blood pressure and ulcers; therefore supports the building of the new state of the art biomedical research laboratory at Oxford University, which will improve the facilities currently used to house research animals and so enhance animal welfare; applauds the Pro-Test movement in Oxford for their support of scientific research including animal based research; condemns unlawful animal rights extremism, including any violence, harassment or intimidation of those associated with lawful animal research; and supports the well-regulated use of animals in medical research.