Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
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Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on collecting data annually on the number of clinical trial applications that include toxicity tests conducted in 2 species.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20th April to Question UIN 125672.
With reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress he has made on defining and applying guidance that permits first in human clinical trial submission for biological therapies where no pharmacologically relevant preclinical animal model exists based only on non-animal data.
In line with the Government’s strategy to replace animals in science, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) supports the use of non-animal approaches where they are fit for purpose and accepts that, where a biological product is not pharmacologically active in animals and no relevant animal model exists, studies in animals, including with surrogate molecules, should not be undertaken and first-in-human applications can be supported using non-animal data, such as in vitro methods and computer modelling, to inform expected human exposure and safety. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methodsMore broadly, alternative methods used to characterise safety must be demonstrated as fit for their intended purpose, and MHRA guidance, published in March 2026, sets out its current approach to medicines using non-animal methods, including how such approaches can support regulatory submissions and the adoption of validated alternatives as they become available. For potency testing and for adventitious agent testing, separate information for manufacturers on controls for batch release is on the MHRA website explaining how adoption of non-animal methods for these purposes is supported. Further information is available at the following two links:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mhra-approach-to-medicines-using-non-animal-methodshttps://nibsc.org/about_us/our_use_of_animals.aspx
With reference to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress his Department has made in applying only validated alternative methods for pharmacopoeial adventitious agent testing for human medicinal products licensed in the UK.
In line with the Government’s strategy to replace animals in science, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) supports the use of non-animal approaches where they are fit for purpose and accepts that, where a biological product is not pharmacologically active in animals and no relevant animal model exists, studies in animals, including with surrogate molecules, should not be undertaken and first-in-human applications can be supported using non-animal data, such as in vitro methods and computer modelling, to inform expected human exposure and safety. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methodsMore broadly, alternative methods used to characterise safety must be demonstrated as fit for their intended purpose, and MHRA guidance, published in March 2026, sets out its current approach to medicines using non-animal methods, including how such approaches can support regulatory submissions and the adoption of validated alternatives as they become available. For potency testing and for adventitious agent testing, separate information for manufacturers on controls for batch release is on the MHRA website explaining how adoption of non-animal methods for these purposes is supported. Further information is available at the following two links:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mhra-approach-to-medicines-using-non-animal-methodshttps://nibsc.org/about_us/our_use_of_animals.aspx
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on restarting the survey on public attitudes to animal research.
A competition has been launched to secure support in delivering the next waves of the survey on public attitudes to animal research. Feedback from key stakeholders has been sought on the survey questions from the last wave.
With reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress he has made in replacing adventitious agent testing in animals.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2026 to Question 128366.
How many officers in each prison are a) currently trained in Operation Tornado control and restraint procedures and b) what percentage of operational staff in each prison does this represent.
The number of officers trained in Operation Tornado control and restraint procedures, as of 31 March 2026, and the percentage of operational staff that these staff represent, are set out in the attached table.
With reference to the “Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad”, page 30, by when does he plan to have reviewed our defence language provision.
As part of the implementation of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is reviewing options to strengthen language proficiency across Defence and to enhance the language training available to internationally facing personnel. This work includes assessing how the current language provision delivered through the Defence Academy could be better utilised and expanded, exploring opportunities for closer cooperation with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and making use of new enablers, such as the Pan‑Defence Skills Framework, to identify, track and develop language proficiency across Defence. The scoping phase for this review is currently underway, which will determine the formal completion date. Defence is progressing this work alongside wider efforts to invest in our people, processes and technology to implement the direction of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on developing mechanisms to enable regulators to increase uptake of the MHRA’s scientific advice service.
The strategy sets out seven commitments to increase confidence in the validation and regulatory uptake of alternative methods.On 24 March, the MHRA announced it will offer early regulatory review of non‑animal data, including data generated using in silico approaches, to provide clarity on how such data will be assessed ahead of clinical trials. MHRA is the first UK regulator to offer this service, setting a precedent which the Government expects other regulators to follow.The Government will publish a delivery update, including the regulatory elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
What the cost is of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise in each year until 2029/30 as a proportion of GDP.
Spend in relation to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise will be considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
How many countries within NATO spent a larger proportion of GDP on defence than the UK in 2026/27.
NATO publishes defence expenditure figures for its members. As he will know figures for NATO members' defence spending for 2026-27 have not yet been published.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in increasing challenge-led innovation funding schemes to deliver alternative methods priorities for a) development and b) validation.
The commitments to increase investment and expand challenge led innovation for alternative methods are being led by UKRI.The Strategy was supported by £75m of funding and commits to increasing investment in alternative methods. UKRI has been in discussion to consider the most effective delivery approach and £20 million of increased funding is already available through the Pre‑clinical Translational Models Hub funding call, launched in March 2026. In addition, Innovate UK launched a £2 million Contracts for Innovation competition in February 2026.
Whether activity related to Ukraine via the Coalition of the Willing will be funded by the Ministry of Defence or from the contingency reserve.
The Government is investing in the UK Armed Forces to prepare for deployment as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU). This capital spending is being funded from the core defence budget and sends a clear signal to allies and adversaries of the UK's intent to lead the MNFU, fulfil our promises to secure the peace in Ukraine and deliver a new deal for European security to make Britain safer.
Pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026, to question 124297 on Norway: Navy, what naval interoperability has been enhanced.
Royal Navy units continue to work closely with their Norwegian counterparts to ensure both nations operate seamlessly together in protecting shared security interests. For more information, I refer the hon. Member to the following Royal Navy and Government press releases:https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/march/25/20260325-joint-commando-craft-rfiUK and Norway to operate together to counter Russian undersea threat through major new defence agreement - GOV.UKUK steps up defence of Arctic and High North from rising Russian threats - GOV.UKBoost for UK Growth and Security as Norway Selects UK Warships in £10 billion partnership - GOV.UK
Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2026 to question 125651 on Animal Experiments, which Ministers sit on the Ministerial Board overseeing delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy.
The Ministerial Board overseeing delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy is chaired by Lord Vallance. Its membership includes Baroness Hayman, Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Lord Hanson, Minister of State at the Home Office.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on creating a publicly available dashboard of progress against key deliverables.
The Government will publish a delivery update on progress across all elements of the strategy including the key performance indicators dashboard later in 2026.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on awarding the first round of Validation Accelerator grants.
The Validation Accelerator grant commitment is being led by UKRI and will be delivered through a number of mechanisms, For example, Innovate UK’s £2 million Contracts for Innovation: Industrial Human‑Relevant Drug Models competition, launched in February 2026, supports the development and commercialisation of non‑animal methods to assess the pre‑clinical pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular safety of new medicines.Validation Accelerators will be coordinated by the UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM), once it is established. £30 million has been allocated to support its establishment and delivery.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on commissioning the Animals in Science Committee to recommend corporate responsibility reporting expectations by establishments using animals on their use of alternatives.
We are engaging with the Home Office to agree the most effective way to work with the ASC to deliver this commitment, aligned with existing ASC programmes of work. The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
With reference to the “Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad”, page 30, by when does he plan to have produced a new Defence Diplomacy Doctrine.
In line with the commitments set out in the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is already progressing the development of a new Defence Diplomacy Doctrine, which will be published and in use across Defence in late 2026.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in creating positive incentives for research proposal applicants to develop and implement alternatives to animal use.
The delivery of the commitment to Enable funders to ensure thorough scrutiny of animal research in funding decisions is led by UKRI and will create positive incentives for research proposal applicants to develop and implement alternatives to animal use.UKRI are developing a funding service to support this and the strategy commits to start the funding cycle in 2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in strengthening the commitment of journal editors to publishing research using alternative methods without requiring comparison with an animal model.
The delivery of the commitment to strengthen the commitment of journal editors to publishing research using alternative methods sits with NC3Rs.As set out in the strategy, this work will be initiated at the start of 2027. To support this, NC3Rs will launch their DRIVER (Designing and Reporting In Vitro Experiments Responsibly) recommendations that underpin improved experimental design and reporting of in vitro studies in 2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.