BUAV: Animal testing highlighted in run-up to Glasgow North East by election

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 12:00 AM

As polling day approaches in Glasgow North East, the BUAV, the UK's leading organisation campaigning to end animal experiments, is calling on voters to consider candidates views on animal testing when casting their vote. Recently released figures show that 555,567 procedures on animals were carried out in Scotland in 2008, a 42% increase since 2007 and representing 15% of the total experiments in the UK (1).

A recent YouGov opinion poll which took place in a number of countries in the EU, including the UK, showed that a resounding 84% of the public said they wanted experiments causing severe pain or distress banned within the EU (2).

The BUAV has offered each candidate the opportunity to share their views on a number of different issues including access to information, funding for alternatives and the use of cats and dogs in research. Only Eileen Baxendale (Liberal Democrat) and David Doherty (Green Party) responded to this request with candidates strongly agreeing that more needed doing to reverse the increasing trend of animals used in experiments.

BUAV chief executive, Michelle Thew stated: "With over half a million animals used in experiments in Scotland every year, it is important that voters have the opportunity to know candidates' views on this subject when the time comes to cast their vote. We really appreciate Eileen Baxendale and David Doherty strong commitment to reducing the number of animals used and hope that whoever is elected on Thursday will share this view."

ENDS

For further information, please contact Carla Owen on +44 (0)207 619 6965 or Carla.owen@buav.org or BUAV (out of hours) +44 (0)7850 510 955 or visit our Web site http://www.buav.org/

1. Number of procedures figure provided in Hansard 12th October 2009 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091012/text/91012w0114.htm#09101417000005

2. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 7139 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th February - 4th March 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of the population sizes of the countries surveyed.

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