BUAV: Scottish MSPs put pressure on UK Government to reduce animal testing
Monday, 21 February 2011 12:00 AM
The BUAV has welcomed a motion introduced by Patrick Harvie MSP calling for a reduction in the amount of animal testing taking place in Scotland. Eight MSPs have already supported the motion in its first week.
Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow Region, has called on the Scottish Parliament to introduce targeted reduction for animal experiments (1). He has also called for the views of the Scottish public to be taken into account when the UK Government makes decisions on animal experimentation. Many people will be shocked to discover the number of animals used in experiments in Scottish laboratories - the latest annual statistics show that almost 500,000 animals were used in 2009.
Although this is a reduction in the number of animals tested on since 2008, Mr Harvie would like a binding commitment made to phasing out animal experiments. Patrick Harvie MSP commented,
"The Scottish Green Party is committed to targeted year on year reductions of animal testing. With the public now backing this policy it is time the Scottish Parliament took steps to bring this practice to an end. By introducing a schedule for the phasing out of animal testing, Scotland can lead the UK in bringing an end to this kind of animal suffering".
Chief Executive of BUAV, Michelle Thew stated, "Targeted reduction of animal testing is essential to ending cruel and out-dated science. The views of the Scottish public should be taken into account when the UK Government makes decisions on whether to license animal experiments. I urge all members of the public to ask their MSPs to sign the motion."
ENDS
For further information, contact the BUAV Media Office:
fleur.dawes@buav.org
07850 510 955
0207 619 6978
www.buav.org
NOTES
1.
S3M-07939">www.scottish.parliament.uk Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Scottish Green Party): Reduction in Animal Testing- That the Parliament notes with concern the reported use of 494,584 animals in experiments in Scotland in 2009; is encouraged by what it sees as the significant decrease of over 50,000 animals from 2008 to 2009 but considers this number to still be too high; believes that the views of the Scottish public should be taken into account when the UK Government makes decisions on animal experimentation, and would support a year-on-year reduction strategy to minimise animal suffering in Scotland.
Lodged on Monday, February 14, 2011; Current
BUAV is a widely respected international authority on animal testing issues and is frequently called upon by governments, media, corporations and official bodies for its advice and expert opinion. BUAV has been campaigning for over 100 years for a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals.
Fleur Dawes
Media Officer
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV)
16a Crane Grove
London N7 8NN
Direct: +44 (0) 20 7619 6978
Out-of-hours: +44 (0) 7850 510 955
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7700 0252
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