Animal experiments on the increase

Home Office statistics reveal over four million animals were subjected to cruel and unnecessary tests last year, including 3,554 dogs, 2,202 monkeys and 11,895 rabbits, many of whom would have been killed at the end of the experiment.

More advanced scientific methods are available now than ever before yet the number of animal experiments keeps rising – despite a Government pledge to reduce animal use.

It’s a national disgrace and the public deserves to know why.

We urgently need to open up the secretive animal experimentation industry to wider scrutiny by scientists and the public.

Let’s have a proper public examination of proposals to use animals before they suffer tests.

This is only possible if the outdated Section 24 “secrecy clause” is scrapped – a move supported by politicians, celebrities, experts and eminent individuals.

It is time for us to abandon crude and outdated animal tests in favour of modern science.

Please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 255 which calls on the Government to increase transparency and set reduction targets.

Find out how you can helpby visiting the website at www.navs.org.uk.

Jan Creamer

President of the National Anti-Vivisection Society

London