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Government
concedes NAVS freedom call
The
National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) is delighted with a
recent concession from the government that more openness is
needed on animal experiments, but is dismayed that the government
plans to delay action.
After an eight year campaign for any Freedom of Information
Act to be applied to animal experiments, the NAVS has welcomed
the announcement by Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth that
the government agrees with the NAVS' contention that, in light
of the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
the confidentiality clause in the legislation governing animal
experimentation is redundant.
"This is a great step forward," said NAVS Chief Executive
Jan Creamer, "it is time for the government to stand up
to the pressure from the scientific commmunity to maintain the
completely unwarranted blanket of secrecy on animal experiments.
"The public is deeply concerned about the use of animals
in research, but is excluded from access to any information
which would allow them to judge for themselves whether the experiments
are necessary. To continue with this level of secrecy only serves
to convince people that there is something to hide. It is secrecy
and exclusion that makes people angry."
Although disappointed that the announcement is to be followed
with yet a further period of consultation, as there has already
been two years of consultation, the NAVS believes that the scientific
community is going to be hard-pressed to find further excuses
for delay.
Support
Jan
Creamer notes, "The NAVS has been calling for freedom
of information on animal experiments for eight years, the
Animal Procedures Committee has agreed there is a need for
greater opennness, a House of Lords Select Committee on Animals
has supported our call, now the government has conceded we
need greater openness, surely it is time that the government
simply stopped prevaricating."
"The claim that freedom of information would threaten
scientists' personal safety is a red herring" said Jan
Creamer. "The Freedom of Information Act 2000 already
provides for personal safety and confidentiality. It simply
is not necessary to maintain this blanket confidentiality
clause. "If the scientific community believes in what
it is doing to animals in laboratories, it should be prepared
to be questioned in public".
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