Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has for the lethal dose 50 test.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK continues to lead the way in seeking the adoption internationally of improved testing methods that replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in scientific procedures.

Some authorised medicines in the UK include quality control tests which require the use of animals, conducted to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of specific medicines. These tests account for the LD50 cases still conducted.

UK regulators follow the principles of the 3Rs – to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in tests. Significant progress has been made on validating alternative methods which do not use animals, including the possibility of replacing mice by in vitro suitable cell cultures in LD50-type testing methods, and the relevant regulatory quality standards and testing requirements have been revised accordingly for these specific medicines.

The implementation of new tests for existing products must be a process that protects and prioritises human safety, often requiring extensive validation. It is not presently possible to replace all of the existing animal tests with in vitro non-animal replacements.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to restrict bottom trawling of sandeel fish in the North Sea.

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

Fishing for sandeel in UK waters of the North Sea and all Scottish waters has been prohibited since March 2024. Fisheries management is largely devolved. In England, the prohibition of fishing for sandeel in the North Sea is implemented through fishing vessel license restrictions. There are currently no plans for to enforce this prohibition in England through legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of applications for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority outside the two-year time limit for which discretion was applied in (a) 2020, (b) 2021, (c) 2022, (d) 2023, (e) 2024 and (f) 2025.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The table below shows the number and proportion of resolved applications in each calendar year where the two-year time limit was extended.

The above information relates to applications made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) only. For minor applicants, the two-year time limit depends on when the incident was reported to the police. We have taken that into account in the above response.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what proportion of cases in which an applicant to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme had a criminal conviction did the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority apply discretion in (a) 2020, (b) 2021, (c) 2022, (d) 2023, (e) 2024 and (f) 2025.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The table below shows the number and proportion of resolved applications in each calendar year where the applicant had an unspent conviction and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) applied discretion to make an award.

The above information relates to applications made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) only.

We cannot provide the total number of applications where the applicant had an unspent conviction. This information is only recorded where the unspent conviction results in a refusal decision or a reduced award.

Annex D to the Scheme provides that an award will not be made to an applicant with an unspent conviction of a prescribed type. Where the applicant has an unspent conviction of a different type, Annex D provides that an award will be withheld or reduced unless there are exceptional reasons not to withhold or reduce it.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average processing time was for applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme by people living in Rotherham in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The table below shows the average time for decisions to be made on applications* for criminal injuries compensation by people resident in Rotherham**.

* The table does not include archived bereavement applications because the address of the applicant is not retained. In most cases, applications are archived three years after the case has been closed.

** The above table includes all awards where the applicant named Rotherham as the town in their home address in their application.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a veterinary agreement with the EU.

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

The Prime Minister welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and President of the EU Council António Costa to London for a UK-EU Summit on 19 May.

At that Summit we have agreed the parameters for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement making agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and increasing choice in the shops.

This agreement will reduce delays and paperwork at the border, make it easier and cheaper to take pets on holiday into the EU, and trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers will be able to resume.

The holistic merits of an SPS agreement could see an increase in the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16% and increase imports from the EU by around 8%; the agreement could also add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy in the long run. Specifically, GB goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat currently subject to 100% documentary checks and up to 30% physical checks will see these removed entirely; further merits can be found at UK-EU Summit - Explainer - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46724, what steps his Department is taking to support research into (a) non-animal New Approach Methodologies and (b) alternatives to animal testing.

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

The Government is committed to the development of New Approach Methodologies and non-animal alternatives. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a portfolio of investments that support research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ on a chip and computer modelling. In addition they invest £10m annually to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). UKRI also supports ‘human-specific’ research, for example a £15m call on Novel human in vitro models with NC3Rs and Wellcome.

The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21608 on Cephalopods and Shellfish: Animal Welfare, what estimate she has made of when the Animals in Science Committee will conclude its work on the future options for the regulation of the use of decapod crustaceans in scientific research.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not require advice from the Animals in Science Committee at this stage but will be guided by decisions made under the Animal Welfare Act regarding any consideration as to whether decapod crustaceans are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procures) Act 1986.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38034, if he will establish an expert advisory group of representatives from (a) industry, (b) academia and (c) civil society to oversee the implementation of its forthcoming strategy on phasing out animal testing.

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

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The government has been consulting industry, academia and civil society as this process unfolds.

The Government is drafting a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. As part of this, we are considering how we harness expertise in the use of animals in science and their replacement, which is of interest to a variety of government departments and bodies. We will make any announcements when the strategy is published later this year.

Found: Caribbean King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH Email: fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk Sarah Champion

Found: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat, Orkney and Shetland) (added 4 Dec 2024) 4 of 5 (80.0%) Sarah Champion

Found: Current membership Sarah Champion (Labour; Rotherham) (Chair) Tracy Gilbert (Labour; Edinburgh North

Found: Current membership Sarah Champion (Labour; Rotherham) (Chair) Tracy Gilbert (Labour; Edinburgh North

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: 12 May 2025 4.30 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Matt Western (The Chair); Lord Boateng; Sarah Champion

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Not moved_4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: Not moved_4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Not moved_4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: _NC4 Sarah Champion .

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: _NC4 Sarah Champion .

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: _NC4 Sarah Champion .

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: Not moved_4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: _NC4 Sarah Champion .

Found: Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood Jess Asato Helen Morgan Christine Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion

Found: _4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: Lords Amendment 2B Sarah Champion .

Found: Not moved_4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .

Found: Negatived on division_1 Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Sarah Champion .

Found: Lords Amendment 2B Sarah Champion .

Found: _4 Sarah Champion Margaret Mullane .