Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safe use of artificial intelligence.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) increase the accessibility of the deferral of biometric data applications and (b) expedite the process for visa applicants in Gaza.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Where an applicant considers they cannot travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to enrol their biometrics, they can contact us to explain their circumstances. We have published guidance that sets out the policy, “Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)”: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-information/unable-to-travel-to-a-visa-application-centre-to-enrol-biometrics-overseas-applications-accessible

These applicants can request either a predetermination of their visa application to enable them to decide whether to undertake a journey to a VAC, or to be excused from the requirement to attend a VAC to enrol their biometrics.

Predetermination and excusal requests, including by applicants in Gaza, are considered on a case-by-case basis. Each individual case may contain individual factors which make it compelling or compassionate and warrant it being expedited by UK Visas and Immigration staff and is carefully considered under its own merits.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research she is funding into the development of (a) organ-on-a-chip and (b) computer modelling to phase out animal testing.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that supports research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ-on-a-chip, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. UKRI also invests £10 million annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). The Government also co-funds seven Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI), two focusing on AI which will support alternative method development.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a target to replace animal experiments in medical research by 2035.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam to the answer of 9^th June 2025 to Question 55940.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to participate in humanitarian aid airdrops to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. In late July, the Prime Minister announced plans for the UK to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza. Since then, UK aid has been dropped into Gaza by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Whilst airdrops will help to alleviate some of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza. Israel must urgently lift restrictions and facilitate a surge of aid into Gaza to prevent further hunger and malnutrition related deaths. It must ensure that the UN and its partners including non-governmental organisations are able to work safely and effectively.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent JCB equipment being used by the Israeli Government in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. We have guidance on gov.uk that states there are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

The Government also supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to identify and prevent human rights abuses, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support access to medical care for Palestinians.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The healthcare situation in Gaza is critical. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly all hospitals in Gaza have been partly damaged or destroyed. We have made both private and public representations calling for the protection of healthcare facilities and medical professionals. On 25 August, the former Foreign Secretary expressed his horror at the strike on Nasser hospital and called for civilians and healthcare professionals to be protected. On 22 August, the former Foreign Secretary also urged Israel to allow desperately needed medical supplies into Gaza.

With our £19 million of support, UK-Med has treated over 600,000 patient consultations in their field hospitals and emergency departments. We have also boosted regional healthcare capacity by providing £3 million for WHO Egypt to treat medically evacuated civilians from Gaza who are receiving care in Egypt.

On 1 September, the former Foreign Secretary announced an additional £15 million of aid and medical care for Gaza and the region.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to bring forward secondary legislation to enact the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad.