Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to reduce duplication in animal testing.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government is taking several steps to avoid unnecessary duplication in animal testing. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, applicants must demonstrate that they have considered existing evidence and alternative approaches before animal use can be authorised. Home Office inspectors assess whether proposed studies are scientifically justified and whether the 3Rs have been applied as part of the project licence process. Licence holders must also avoid conducting procedures where the required data already exist. In addition, the Government’s Replacing Animals in Science strategy supports increased data sharing and the development and uptake of non-animal methods.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help protect intellectual property rights in the training of AI models.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The government recognises the importance of protecting intellectual property rights for creators and rightsholders. It published a report and impact assessment on AI and copyright on 18 March outlining the steps it is taking on the use of copyright works in AI training.

This includes publishing a review of the mechanisms available for creators to control their works online, establishing a taskforce on labelling AI-generated content, launching a working group on independent and smaller creative organisations, and launching a consultation on ‘digital replicas’.

We continue to listen to the views and perspectives of a range of stakeholders on these issues.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to set out a timetable for phasing out animal testing where alternatives are viable.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government’s Replacing Animals in Science strategy sets out a long-term, science-led approach to reducing reliance on animal testing. Where validated alternatives are available, existing legislation already requires them to be used in place of animals. The Government will not set an arbitrary timetable for the complete phase-out of animal testing, as progress depends on scientific and regulatory developments. Instead, we will publish timelines for specific actions and targeted replacements, alongside key performance indicators and delivery updates to track progress

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of setting annual targets for reducing the number of instances of animal testing.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government has considered the importance of measuring progress in reducing reliance on animals in science. However, it is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and ongoing regulatory requirements. Any reduction must be science-led and delivered in step with the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods. For this reason, the Government will not set arbitrary annual targets for overall reductions in animal testing. Instead, progress will be tracked through transparent milestones, timelines for specific actions, key performance indicators and regular public reporting under the Replacing Animals in Science strategy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Freedom of Religion and Belief is integrated into UK aid programmes that promote gender equality, the rights of disabled people and assistance to other groups in Central Asia.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK recognises that women and girls from religious or belief minority communities can suffer disproportionally because of both their gender and faith- as addressed, for example, in the answer provided on 24 June in response to Question 9814 on the treatment of women from religious minorities in Afghanistan - and we routinely take these factors into account when drawing up our programmes to uphold human rights in different countries. The Department's next report on human rights will be published later this year, covering the period since the current Government came to office, including our work on freedom of religion or belief.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prioritise issues concerning freedom of religion or belief in future Human Rights and Democracy Reports.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK recognises that women and girls from religious or belief minority communities can suffer disproportionally because of both their gender and faith- as addressed, for example, in the answer provided on 24 June in response to Question 9814 on the treatment of women from religious minorities in Afghanistan - and we routinely take these factors into account when drawing up our programmes to uphold human rights in different countries. The Department's next report on human rights will be published later this year, covering the period since the current Government came to office, including our work on freedom of religion or belief.

Proposed Scottish Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame

90th South Queensferry Ferry Fair

Drylaw Telford Community Association

Passion4Fusion

Queensferry Museum Second World War exhibition

Richard Pengelly

The Bookmonger, Bearsden Cross

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Royal Mail delivery standards

Merchant Navy Day

Touring artists mobility arrangements

Russian sanctions

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Found: East Hampshire) Rosie Duffield (Independent; Canterbury) Dame Nia Griffith (Labour; Llanelli) Christine Jardine

Found: East Hampshire) Rosie Duffield (Independent; Canterbury) Dame Nia Griffith (Labour; Llanelli) Christine Jardine

Found: meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Alex Brewer; Rosie Duffield; Dame Nia Griffith; Christine Jardine

Found: Members present1 Sarah Owen, in the Chair2 David Burton-Sampson Rosie Duffield Nia Griffith Christine Jardine

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Owen (Chair); Dame Nia Griffith; Christine Jardine; Kim Leadbeater