Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 March (HL15813), how many licences they granted for the use of (1) beagles, and (2) non-human primates, in scientific procedures in 2025.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025, a total of 12 project licences were granted that included the use of beagles and/or non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: 4 authorising the use of beagles; 4 authorising the use of non-human primates; and, 4 authorising the use of both beagles and non-human primates.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 March (HL15813), what assessment they have made of the compatibility of granting licences for the use of animals in scientific testing with their Replacing animals in science strategy, published 11 November 2025.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Replacing animals in science strategy recognises that, while the long‑term vision is to replace the use of animals in science wherever possible, some animal use remains necessary at present to develop and test new medicines, advance understanding of biology and disease, and to protect human and animal health and the environment. These activities are integral to the UK’s national health preparedness and resilience, including the ability to respond to emerging health threats. Progress towards the phasing out of animal use must be science‑led and supported by reliable alternative methods.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the use of animals in scientific procedures is subject to a strict regulatory framework. Project licence applications must demonstrate that the harms to animals are justified by the expected benefits to society, the environment or animals themselves. They must also comply fully with the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs). This means that animals cannot be used if a suitable non‑animal method exists, the minimum number of animals must be used, and any harms must be minimised through the most refined methods available.

Accordingly, the licensing regime is compatible with the strategy; it enables only tightly controlled animal use where it is scientifically justified and no suitable alternative exists, while continuing to drive the development, validation and uptake of non-animal approaches.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to restricting the UK’s export of non-stun slaughter sheep meat as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council–United Kingdom free trade agreement negotiations.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government shares the public’s high regard for animal welfare, and nothing in the proposed GCC agreement will change our animal welfare standards.

All slaughter of animals for export of meat – whether from animals slaughtered with or without stunning – must comply with UK rules on animal welfare. Legislation requires that all animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there is sufficient oversight of biosecurity border controls; and whether they plan to provide any further resources to biosecurity border controls, following reports of attempts to smuggle large quantities of meat into the UK illegally.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Protecting UK biosecurity remains paramount, and the Government will do whatever it takes to protect farmers. Defra is continually improving its oversight of operations, and we are undertaking relevant analysis to support ongoing operational oversight and develop further strategic border oversight functions.

Border checks are one component of the border biosecurity system, providing robust assurance that the underlying system of biosecurity controls are working as intended. The system also includes risk assessments, import conditions and health certificates signed by vets in the exporting country. The border checks are important, but they are not the primary mechanism for managing biosecurity risks. Defra has also imposed additional restrictions on imports of animal products, including those for personal consumption, in direct response to animal disease outbreaks in countries we trade with.

Defra officials are working with Border Force and Dover Port Health Authority to assess where enhanced enforcement activity would have the greatest impact. Defra is also discussing additional funding with for Dover Port Health Authority to support operations at Dover, indeed Defra has already invested significantly in additional capacity and has provided over £14.4m since October 2022 for port health authority operations at the port of Dover.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the reduction of animals being subjected to non-stun slaughter is not an objective in their Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

An industry-led initiative called the Demonstration of Life Protocol, which the Government supports, provides assurance for Muslim consumers that the stunning of sheep and goats is compatible with halal slaughter requirements, while protecting the welfare of the animals involved and supporting opportunities for trade.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the individuals and communities who consume meat that is slaughtered under the derogation in the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 that applies to non-stun slaughter of meat for religious purposes.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites. The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

No assessment has been made of the individuals and communities who consume meat from animals slaughtered without stunning.

Found: Andrews; Baroness Browning; Baroness Cass; Lord Dholakia; Baroness Freeman of Steventon; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger

Found: Andrews; Baroness Browning; Baroness Cass; Lord Dholakia; Baroness Freeman of Steventon; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger

Found: Andrews; Baroness Browning; Baroness Cass; Lord Dholakia; Baroness Freeman of Steventon; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger

Found: Baroness Walmsley (The Chair); Baroness Cass; Lord Dholakia; Baroness Freeman of Steventon; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger

Found: Baroness Walmsley (The Chair); Baroness Cass; Lord Dholakia; Baroness Freeman of Steventon; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger