Public coolness to animal testing demands action

4.01.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 28th Jul 2006

Responding to the BBC Newsnight opinion poll which showed that a majority of the public would not support the public funding of animal research facilities for medical research, Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat Science Spokesman and MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who took part in the Newsnight debate at which the ICM poll was revealed, said:

"The results of this poll should be a spur into action. The public do not see the connection between new treatments for diseases, drugs and vaccines and the term 'medical research'. If asked whether they support the use of animal research where no other alternative is available to develop life-saving treatments for cancer, AIDS or Alzheimer's the public's response would be very different, as previous polls have shown.

Dr Harris, who is the MP for the area where the new Oxford University lab is being built, added

"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.

Dr Harris has called in parliament for medicines that have been researched or tested on animals to be labelled as such,

"It is surely now time for honesty in medicines labelling, so that patients and the public are made aware that without animal research most treatments would never have been discovered and those we have would not be as safe. The pharmaceutical industry and the Government who have not been keen on this idea must realise that we are not winning the battle with the pseudo-science propagandists of the animal rights movement."

"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. The propaganda of the anti-vivisection movement must be countered in Parliament, in school classrooms and in medicine cabinets."

END

1) The poll was prepared on behalf of BBC Newsnight by ICM Research for a programme on Thursday 27th July 2006.

2) Evan Harris secured an adjournment debate on 23rd June 2006 entitled 'the role of animal research in medicines and health care' in which he called 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.

The debate was answered by Andy Burnham who gave this response to this specific issue:

Dr. Harris: Will the Minister use the last two minutes to refer to the labelling of medicine packs because I know that many people want to hear his views?

Andy Burnham: I will. I heard the hon. Gentleman's comments and have read the transcript of his interview on the "Today" programme. He is making an interesting proposal. I know that it has been discussed before and I have an open mind about it. I am prepared to consider the issues further, but I urge him to recognise that a cost-benefit analysis is required because there are risks—it has been suggested that some people may be deterred from taking medicines—and there is a financial cost to the NHS of doing so. There may be other risks in following such a course.

At the same time, the benefit that the hon. Gentleman wants is public confidence and acceptance of the need for animal testing so there is a benefit, but I hope that he recognises that there may be dangers also. The matter should be considered in the round before a firm commitment can be given one way or another. I do not have a closed mind on the issue and if he wants to do further work and to engage us in further debate, I am happy to do so. However, the matter is not as straightforward as it may seem initially, although I am not saying that I have a real desire or a closed mind.

The debate is available here: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060523/halltext/60523h0103.htm#06052399000005