https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.97.8

While politicians were enjoying summer recess, The Society’s policy work was at full speed.

Engaging with Parliamentarians

Following the launch of the Engaging with Parliamentarians Scheme at the House of Lords in June, we were delighted to welcome around 30 Society members to Hodgkin Huxley House in September for the Engaging with Parliamentarians training day.

The day was designed to provide information on the policy-making process, encourage members to think about policy development, and provide
an opportunity to explore how policy issues are communicated by The Society. This was the first Engaging Parliamentarians at H3 time The Society has run such an event and a number of lessons were learned. In 2015 the Policy Committee will be developing new policy positions on the key issues that were identified at the meeting as core concerns for The Society and its members. The Committee is also keen to ensure that the communication of ongoing policy work is improved, with opportunities for members to help shape policy positions.

The Health of Physiology

The Health of Physiology review is a major project being led by the President and the Chief Executive of The Society. It is reviewing physiology as a scientific, medical and educational discipline in the UK and Ireland, looking at data across a range of metrics including student numbers, research funding and publication data. In September separate stakeholder meetings were held with members and external organisations to gauge opinion.

Interestingly there was much similarity in the discussions, including – the teaching and learning of physiology in schools and universities; academic research and ties with industry; and concern for the profile of physiology and The Society. One of the recommendations for the future was for The Society to be more externally focused, with the external stakeholders encouraging greater collaboration.

The Society is currently gathering the views of industry and will also be seeking student opinion. The findings from all the key stakeholders will be incorporated into the final report and will help shape the future strategy for The Society. The report will be launched in 2015.

Letter to the Prime Minister

On 12 August The Society wrote to the Prime Minister in response to comments made by Norman Baker MP, the Home Office Minister with responsibility for animal research. He was quoted in the media as saying he wanted ‘to see an end to all animal testing’. Our letter strongly urged the Government to understand the clear and vital need for the continued use of animals in research, impressing on them the need to provide clear, consistent and balanced messages on the issue.

We received a response from Mr Baker explaining that he had not called for a ban on all use of animals in scientific procedures and instead he looked forward to the day, ‘in the far–off future, when science has developed techniques that make use of animals redundant’.

Section 24 reforms

In June The Society responded to a Home Office consultation on proposed changes to Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. At the time of writing The Home Office has yet to formally announce what changes will be made to Section 24; once they do we will communicate these through The Society’s usual channels.

If you would like to know more about or contribute to the policy work The Physiological Society performs on behalf of its members please email Ed Hayes – ehayes@physoc.org

Interested in these or any other policy related issues? Please contact us via policy@physoc.org