Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria is used by the Home Office when considering whether to review, vary, suspend or revoke an establishment licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and whether concerns raised regarding MBR Acres have been assessed against that criteria.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), the Home Office may review an establishment licence where information raises concerns about compliance or animal welfare. In deciding whether to vary, suspend or revoke a licence, it considers the available evidence, the nature and seriousness of any breach, its actual or potential impact on animal welfare, the licence holder’s compliance history and whether the proposed action is necessary and proportionate. A licence may be suspended urgently where this is necessary to safeguard animal welfare. Decisions are taken case by case in accordance with ASPA and the published Animals in Science Regulation Unit compliance framework.

Concerns raised about MBR Acres have been assessed through these established regulatory processes. Published inspection reports found no evidence of non-compliance with the requirements of ASPA, associated licence conditions, or the statutory Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Regulator also carried out an announced audit on 10 July 2026, following a period of high temperatures in Great Britain. No immediate animal welfare concerns were identified by inspectors on the day of the visit.