Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 often comes up in parliamentary debates and petitions. But what actually is Section 24? 

What is Section 24?

Section 24 concerns how confidential information is protected. Under Section 24, the Home Office can’t release any information received in confidence under ASPA. This is true even if the information provider has no objection to it being shared publicly.  

What does this mean?

It means we can’t access information like: 

• Licensing assessments 

• Content of licensing applications 

• Inspector’s visit reports to animal research facilities 

• Review papers 

Why does this matter?

It’s incompatible with the Government’s policies on openness and transparency, and the central principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  

The Freedom of Information Act allows public access to information held by public authorities, but Section 24 has not been updated in line with it.  

Why we should repeal Section 24

Repealing Section 24 would give external scientific bodies and welfare groups, among others, the opportunity to scrutinise proposed procedures for animals before they’re conducted.  

This would give us the opportunity to identify things like: 

• If experiments are duplicates and would be using animals with no knowledge to be gained 

• If experiments are scientifically unnecessary 

• If there are opportunities to utilise non-animal methods that researchers may not be aware of 

Repealing Section 24 would cement the Government’s commitment to openness and transparency. 

Has Section 24 been reviewed?

• In 2001, Ms Candy Atherton, Lavor MP for Falmouth and Camborne, asked when a decision would be made on the changes to Section 24 of ASPA. This was followed by a review in 2002. The outcome of the review was that it shouldn’t change but could be reviewed again in two years.  

• Between 2004 and 2014, several MPs asked for updates on when it would be reviewed again. Each time, it was answered that there were no plans to review the repeal plans.  

• In 2014, the Government published their ‘Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research’ delivery plan. MP Norman Baker, Minister of State – Home Department, stated the government was actively reviewing Section 24. There was a public consultation, but no real changes were made based on this and the consultation was never published. 

• In 2022, there was an update during the laboratory animal and animal welfare debate. Kit Malthouse, the government representative, stated he didn’t know why the consultation results hadn’t been published and that they would be published later in the year. 

• It is now 2024 and the results still have not been published and will be a decade out of date if and when they are.  

What happens next?

As part of our policy work, we’ll continue to raise Section 24, and the lack of transparency around animal research, as an issue to policymakers and civil servants. Transparency in research is essential to ensure: 

• Trust in government and scientific progress 

• Collaboration and innovation in science 

• An awareness of where public money is being spent 

• Knowledge of how and where animals are being used