Dear Department for Education,
Please could you provide me with information regarding the following:
1. plans to update the basic life science undergraduate courses at universities in the UK to take account of the compulsory use of replacements for animal research in compliance with the 1986 Animals in Scientific Procedures Act section 2A?
2. Guidance and advice you produce for the basic research undertaken by undergraduates on life sciences courses and the curricula offered by universities in compliance with the 1986 Animals in Scientific Procedures Act section 2A?

Please could you as the responsible Department for Education, explain why undergraduates are made responsible for the animals welfare that are use for their own research at universities offering animal research as basic research? This is 24/7 responsibility and unlike other resources are sentient beings. What guidance have you have you provided on this matter please and may I see it.

What guidance have you provided to the Home Office on the management of animals used in research and their welfare at nights and weekends?
This is particularly important as almost ALL the non-compliance resulting in death and injury outside the the research 'norms' are coming from the universities placing the responsibility of duty of care on a student.
Even though the animals are procured and owned by the university.

Yours faithfully,

Linda Birr-Pixton