Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled Non-technical summaries for project licences granted January – March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the 2,161,210 animals approved for use across 125 projects.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is committed to ensuring that the use of animals in scientific research is strictly regulated and is only permitted where no suitable alternatives are available.
In parallel, the Government is committed to working towards a vision of phasing out the use of animals in science. This Government will publish a strategy that describes how it will accelerate the development and uptake of alternative methods to animal research and testing later this year.
All applications for animal research must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum.
The Home Office only allows the use of animals if it can be demonstrated that the benefits outweigh the harms and the 3Rs have been fully applied. This ensures that any project is justified by the expected benefits for humans, animals or the environment.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of unfilled magistrate vacancies on 9 July 2025.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We do not have a set number of magistrate vacancies. Magistrate recruitment targets are set on an annual basis covering 1 April to 31 March. As of 1 April 2025, there were 14,636 magistrates in post. We are aiming to recruit around 2,000 magistrates in 2025/26, and we are currently considering our ongoing resourcing needs in light of the planned reform of the criminal courts.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many companies are listed on the Government’s Debarment List under the exclusion regime in the Procurement Act 2023.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to tackling misconduct in public procurement. All contracting authorities and suppliers are expected to act, and be seen to act, with integrity. The debarment regime came into effect on 24 February 2025. We will not hesitate to make use of those powers where there is evidence of wrongdoing where appropriate.
In order for any supplier to be added to the debarment list, an investigation must be undertaken.
The outcomes of debarment investigations will be published here. Currently there are no suppliers included on the debarment list.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to consultation outcome document entitled Summary of responses and government response, published on 12 June 2025, what his Department's timetable is for implementing mandatory method-of-production labelling for (a) eggs, (b) pork and (c) chicken.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 12 June 2025 we published the summary of responses and government response to the fairer food labelling consultation, which was undertaken last year by the previous government. The response is available here on GOV.UK.
We recognise the strong support from the public and other stakeholders for clearer information for consumers on welfare standards for their food. We have also heard and understood the views raised on the detail of the consultation proposals by the many interested parties who have responded to this consultation.
We will consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare and food strategies.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made support an independent UN investigation into the Chemmani site in Sri Lanka, which includes (a) exhumations, (b) forensic analysis, and (c) victim centred consultations.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is deeply concerned by the recent discovery of the mass grave in Chemmani. We remain committed to supporting accountability for human rights violations and we regularly meet the Government of Sri Lanka to discuss reconciliation and accountability and to press for tangible progress, particularly on cases of enforced disappearances. In January, I visited Sri Lanka and met a range of stakeholders including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka to discuss human rights. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo maintain close contact with families of the disappeared from across the country, working to ensure their voices are heard, and have raised this issue with the Government of Sri Lanka. We continue to lead international efforts such as at the UN Human Rights Council alongside the Core Group to ensure perpetrators are held to account.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Victims' Code is enforceable; and what mechanisms are available to victims to ensure that criminal justice agencies comply with that code.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are committed to ensuring that victims receive the service they deserve under the Code. This is why earlier this year we commenced the new statutory obligation from the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which requires those who provide Code services to comply with the Code unless there is a good reason not to. We have also commenced other measures from the 2024 Act that will help the Victims’ Commissioner to hold bodies to account for how they are delivering for victims, including by placing a duty on certain authorities to respond to the Commissioner’s recommendations and to cooperate with reasonable requests from the Commissioner.
We are building on these powers through the Victims and Courts Bill, which will provide the Victims’ Commissioner with new tools to drive systemic change. We will also consult on a new Code in due course to make sure we get the foundations for victims right.
If victims feel that they have not received the service they can expect as set out in the Victims’ Code, there are formal complaints processes that service providers are required to provide. If victims are not happy with a service provider’s complaint response, they can now complain directly to the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman without going through an MP.
The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code, including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance.
The framework has not yet been commenced - preparatory work is underway, for example actively engaging with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to commence section 8 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2025; and what steps she is taking produce the framework to review compliance with the Victims Code.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are committed to ensuring that victims receive the service they deserve under the Code. This is why earlier this year we commenced the new statutory obligation from the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which requires those who provide Code services to comply with the Code unless there is a good reason not to. We have also commenced other measures from the 2024 Act that will help the Victims’ Commissioner to hold bodies to account for how they are delivering for victims, including by placing a duty on certain authorities to respond to the Commissioner’s recommendations and to cooperate with reasonable requests from the Commissioner.
We are building on these powers through the Victims and Courts Bill, which will provide the Victims’ Commissioner with new tools to drive systemic change. We will also consult on a new Code in due course to make sure we get the foundations for victims right.
If victims feel that they have not received the service they can expect as set out in the Victims’ Code, there are formal complaints processes that service providers are required to provide. If victims are not happy with a service provider’s complaint response, they can now complain directly to the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman without going through an MP.
The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code, including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance.
The framework has not yet been commenced - preparatory work is underway, for example actively engaging with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
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 uphold International Humanitarian Law.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a champion of International Humanitarian Law and committed to promoting compliance. Where the UK is involved in military action, this is conducted in full accordance with UK and international law. If we see signs that violations of International Humanitarian Law may occur, we raise the alarm – directly with the countries involved, with nearby nations, and through international organisations. It is the UK government’s long-standing position that determinations of breaches of International Humanitarian Law are a matter for courts, and not for governments.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of rolling out sheltered employment work schemes for adults with learning disabilities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There is an international and domestic evidence-base demonstrating that sheltered employment, when delivered in line with one of the recognised Supported Employment models, is effective in supporting disabled people, people with health conditions and complex barriers to employment to find sustained work.
That is why we have announced, as part of the Get Britain Working Strategy, the locally led, voluntary, Supported Employment programme, Connect to Work, that will help disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to employment to get into and retain work. Connect to Work funding will provide Supported Employment programmes throughout all of England and Wales.
Local Authorities are required to deliver Connect to Work through two models of Supported Employment, Individual Placement and Support and Supported Employment Quality Framework. The latter model, in particular, has been shown to benefit individuals with learning disabilities who are seeking sustained employment.
Connect to Work is rolling out on a phased basis, shaped by local authorities’ own timetables. Local areas are opening their Connect to Work programmes through 2025, with the first areas – covering the West London Alliance partnership of London Boroughs and East Sussex now open for participants. We expect more areas to go live this summer, with progressively more each month through 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
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 impact of a veterinary agreement with the EU on conservation.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. With the principles and framework of an SPS agreement now agreed, we will now negotiate the detail of an agreement that aims to reduce administrative burden by streamlining SPS checks and certification. Defra is committed to ensuring that the unique needs of the zoo and wildlife sector, particularly in relation to conservation animal transfers, are considered as part of this process – recognising the critical role that UK zoos and aquariums play in global conservation programmes.
Defra is actively engaging with the zoo and wildlife and conservation sectors to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced. This engagement will help to secure the best possible outcome for the sector, and Defra remains committed to working closely with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver a future framework that supports the UK’s biosecurity, trade and conservation objectives.