UK: Universities forced to reveal animal test details

Universities will be forced to reveal details of controversial research, including testing on monkeys, after a tribunal ruling made it harder for them to claim exemption from freedom of information requests, writes Jonathan Brown for The Independent.

Newcastle University had argued that responding to requests could endanger the safety of scientists or harm its commercial interests. But a landmark ruling by the Information Tribunal found in favour of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in its three-year battle against the university, insisting it hand over details of Home Office licences to conduct experiments on primates. The charity claimed the lead researcher had been refused permission in Germany to carry out invasive brain techniques.

Campaigners believe the decision could have implications for Britain's university sector and it follows calls by Sir Paul Nurse, the President of the Royal Society, for the Freedom of Information Act to be reviewed.
Full report on The Independent site