Thank you to those who have contacted me about animal research and EDM 256.

I understand there are concerns regarding the licences issued for animal experiments.

It is important that animals are treated humanely and that experimentation on animals for the purposes of medicine is only done when there are absolutely no other suitable alternatives.

Without animal testing it would be necessary for potentially dangerous new medicines to be tested in healthy volunteers and patients in clinical trials - ministers consider this to be an unacceptable risk.

By encouraging new cutting-edge approaches to science, we will ensure that standards of animal welfare are improved. I fully support all steps to establish new methods and to support the life sciences and research industry. Since 2017, the Government has invested around £1 billion through two Life Sciences Sector Deals.