The number of animal experiments in the UK has risen to its highest level for 10 years, figures showed yesterday.

The total last year rose by 59,000 to 2.79 million, an increase of 2.2 per cent on 2002, the Home Office data showed.

Government Response: Home Office

Caroline Flint Home Office minister said "There remains a clear need for the use of animals in vital scientific research where no alternative is available.

"This type of research saves countless lives each year and the government fully supports the efforts of scientists working to secure medical advances and public health improvements.

"The UK's controls on the use of animals are amongst the tightest in the world.

"The government is firmly committed to the 'three Rs' - reducing the numbers of animals used, replacing animals wherever possible and refining scientific procedures involving animals - and improving animal welfare.

"Since 1997 the government has introduced a number of initiatives to improve animal welfare, refine scientific procedures and minimise the number of animals used, and any suffering caused, including prohibiting animal procedures solely to test cosmetic, alcohol or tobacco products.

"The government has recently established the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research to drive the search for alternatives to animal experiments.

"But let us not forget, this is essential, life-saving research. Scientists carrying out this work have been targeted by extremist groups and the government has made clear that this type of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.

"We recently published plans to strengthen the law further to protect the scientific community, who have the government's full support."

Stakeholder Response: National Anti Vivisection Society

Jan Creamer, chief executive of the NAVS, said: "There is no other country in Europe where there is such strong opposition from the public to animal experimentation, yet with such open support for animal research from figures such as Tony Blair, John Prescott and Lord Sainsbury, it is hard to see how the brakes can be put on animal experimentation in the UK.

"There is a sense now that animal researchers know that whatever they do, they will get the unquestioning support of the government.

"It is important to remember that these figures represent over two and half million living animals. Animals that are kept in barren, factory farm like conditions, and given diseases, burned, blinded, force fed chemicals, or genetically modified. it is a horrific death toll."