To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what partnerships by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals Research has entered into with animal welfare organisations since its establishment. (290371)

The Government established the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in 2004 to accelerate the development and application of the 3Rs. The NC3Rs works with research funders, universities, industry, regulatory authorities and animal welfare organisations to advance the 3Rs.

Since its inception, the NC3Rs has worked with the UK's leading animal welfare organisations; the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME), the RSPCA and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).

This year, the NC3Rs held a joint meeting with FRAME to celebrate two important landmarks; FRAME's 40 anniversary and the 50 anniversary of the publication which first described the principles of the 3Rs. The NC3Rs, also in 2009, jointly published with the RSPCA guidance on the sharing and archiving of genetically altered mice. The centre is also a member of the UFAW 3Rs Liaison Group and over the last three years has provided £30,000 to support the group's goal of funding studentships to develop practical solutions that advance laboratory animal welfare.