Stephen's views on animal testing

I am a strong supporter of animal rights and welcome measures that help to improve the welfare of animals. I recently voted for the new Animal Welfare Bill that is currently being debated in Parliament. The Duty of Care and the confirmation of the five basic freedoms to which animals should be entitled included in this Bill are positive moves in the right direction. The Liberal Democrats support the Bill, but we will also seek to improve it, strengthening the protection of animals.

The use of animals in experiments is an emotive issue that has recently been highlighted in the media. I believe it is important to maintain a rational open-minded approach to these issues, reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages of each specific case. In light of large numbers of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions that were not predicted by animal studies, I do have concerns regarding the safeguarding of public health through data obtained from laboratory animals. It is for these reasons that I have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM 92) that calls upon the Government to facilitate an independent and transparent scientific evaluation of the use of animals as surrogate humans in drug safety testing and medical research. This would hopefully bring significant clarity to this important debate.