ANIMALS USED IN SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES

That this House notes the publication of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 2011 report; expresses concern that 3,710,621 animals were used in scientific procedures in 2011, the highest at any point since the current statistics regime was introduced by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; further notes that the increase is contrary to the pledge in the Coalition Programme for Government to `work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research'; is disappointed with the lack of progress being made on this issue; and calls on the Government topublish a strategy on how numbers can bereduced before the end of the current Parliament.