Animals should be scored for pain and suffering during scientific experiments, says an influential UK parliamentary committee.
鈥淚nformation on the levels of suffering and purpose of each project would enable the public to make informed judgements about the justification of animal research,鈥� says Lord Smith of Clifton, chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures.
鈥淢oreover, the information would highlight where there was greatest suffering, and hence where the need to develop replacements, reductions and refinements was greatest,鈥� he says.
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The committee鈥檚 report, published on Wednesday, endorses the use of animals in experiments as necessary for testing new medical treatments. But it recommends changes in the law to force scientists to disclose far more information about their experiments.
Secret filming
At present, the Home Office is barred by law from divulging any information about licence holders or their experiments. 鈥淭his has allowed a nonsense culture to develop where people have to infiltrate a lab with a video camera to secretly film it,鈥� says Lord Smith. 鈥溈烀ǘ淌悠祍 have to raise their heads above the parapet. We want more information to inform the public debate.鈥�
However, the names and addresses of individuals need not be revealed, the Lord Smith says. This would help protect them from extremists who have attacked scientists.
The report also says the government should establish a 鈥渃entre of excellence鈥� on the 鈥渢hree Rs鈥�: reduction, refinement and replacement. This would develop alternatives to vivisection and spread best practice to reduce the numbers of animals used and minimise their suffering.
At present, the government spends only 拢60,000 directly on researching alternatives, though it claims its overall spend is 拢280,000. Over 2.6 million animals were used in UK research in 2001, with 85 per cent being rats, mice and other rodents.
鈥淚rresponsible and discredited鈥�
The report has been broadly welcomed by the scientific lobby. Simon Festing, spokesman for the Association of Medical Research Charities says: 鈥淧atients suffering illnesses like cancer or cystic fibrosis will be relieved that the Lords鈥� Committee have so strongly endorsed the animals in medical research.鈥�
鈥淲ith any luck the irresponsible and now discredited anti-vivisection movement should wither and die,鈥� he says.
But Sarah Kite of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection says: 鈥淲e weren鈥檛 expecting an abolitionists鈥� charter.鈥�
She adds: 鈥淲e welcome the idea of 鈥榩ain scores鈥� and hope they will give a more accurate picture of what happens in labs and the level of needless suffering inflicted on animals. We鈥檙e also pleased that the Lords鈥� have said more information should be released on licence holders and their work. This can only lead to a more informed debate.鈥�