Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit's Annual Report 2022 on 25 April, what assessment they have made of the adequacy of sanctions such as inspector advice and compliance letters in response to animal welfare failings, including animals dying because of a lack of food or water.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit responds to and applies sanctions in cases of non-compliance in accordance with its compliance policy, which aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance. More rigorous sanctions are used in cases where animal welfare is impacted or there are significant systems failures.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit will continue to assess the proportionality of its responses to cases of non-compliance.
Feb. 15 2024
Source Page: ASRU operational newsletter, February 2024Found: Correspondence ASRU operational newsletter, February 2024 Newsletter issued by the Animals
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report 2022, published on 25 April 2024, if he will make it his policy to initiate an investigation into the reasons for the rise in non-compliance cases since 2021.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Home Office takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously. The reasons for the increase in the number of non-compliance cases in 2022 include the introduction of a risk-based audit programme and the drive to improve governance within establishments, including self-reporting.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit will further evaluate trends in non-compliance as its regulatory reform programme develops. Every case is investigated, and remedies and sanctions applied, using more rigorous sanctions in cases where animal welfare is impacted or there are significant systems failures.
Mentions:
1: Elliot Colburn (Con - Carshalton and Wallington) A recent report from the Animals in Science Regulation Unit described “deeply troubling” animal welfare - Speech Link
2: George Eustice (Con - Camborne and Redruth) as science, when actually the science does not require those animals to be used in such numbers at all - Speech Link
3: George Eustice (Con - Camborne and Redruth) At the moment, the unit that processes the licences sits in the Home Office but, as I will say later, - Speech Link
4: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) developing an action plan to phase animals out of EU science and regulation. - Speech Link
Apr. 12 2024
Source Page: Non-technical summaries granted in 2024Found: Non-technical summaries granted in 2024
Jan. 24 2024
Source Page: ASRU complaints procedureFound: Form ASRU complaints procedure The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) is
Mar. 05 2024
Source Page: Advice on the use of the forced swim test: letter from Lord SharpeFound: in Science Committee Animals in Science Committee Secretariat 40 Wellesley Road London CR9
Mar. 05 2024
Source Page: Advice on the use of the forced swim test: letter from Lord SharpeFound: in Science Committee Animals in Science Committee Secretariat 40 Wellesley Road London CR9
Mar. 28 2024
Source Page: The future of futures: participatory futures research in the ASCFound: The future of futures: participatory futures research in the ASC
Oct. 12 2023
Source Page: ASRU operational newsletter, 5 October 2023Found: Correspondence ASRU operational newsletter, 5 October 2023 Newsletter issued by the Animals