Written questions by Mohamed.

With regard to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, how the number of unannounced audits in 2024 compares with previous years; and whether she she is taking to help increase the number of unannounced audits in future years.

The numbers of unannounced audits conducted are reported in the published Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) Annual Reports.YearNumber of unannounced audits202410202314202210 The Annual Report for 2024 can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animals-in-science-regulation-unit-annual-report-2024ASRU has planned to increase the number of unannounced audits as part of its work to strength regulatory oversight. ASRU has also increased its number of inspectors, enabling a greater volume of risk-based audits across the system.Announced and unannounced audits play an important role in providing regulatory assurance. Audit numbers are only one indicator of the level of regulatory oversight; the quality, depth and scope of audits are central to assessing compliance effectively.

If she will amend the Protective Security for Mosques scheme to remove the requirement for a hate crime to have already been committed in order to qualify for protective security.

Mosques and associated Muslim community centres where regular worship takes place are eligible to apply for the Protective Security for Mosques scheme through the application form on gov.uk.Applicants are asked to provide a summary of any security concerns or hate crime experienced at their mosque or community centre, and the impact these have on the people who use it.Applicants are also asked to provide further details or evidence of any incidents of hate crime, where relevant. This will be considered as part of their application alongside other factors set out in the guidance.

With reference to her comments to the BBC on 11 August 2025, whether her Department presented information to the courts during legal proceedings relating to the proscription of Palestine Action on people who are objecting to that proscription because they don't know the full nature of the organisation as a result of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way; and if she will publish this information.

The material relied upon by the Court in its decision making is referenced throughout the judgment which is publicly available here: R (Ammori) v SSHD OPEN Judgment (final)The open material referred to during the proceedings can be requested from the court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules on Court documents see: PART 5 – COURT DOCUMENTS – Civil Procedure Rules – Justice UK. Any material submitted in closed proceedings is protected by the Justice and Security Act 2013 and will not be disclosed for reasons of national security. It would not be appropriate to comment further during ongoing legal proceedings.The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has access to secret and sensitive national security information in order to carry out his role. He routinely publishes his findings in reports that are available on his website: https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/

Whether she will publish the material her Department disclosed to the courts and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on Palestine Action.

The material relied upon by the Court in its decision making is referenced throughout the judgment which is publicly available. R (Ammori) v SSHD OPEN Judgment (final)The open material referred to during the proceedings can be requested from the court in accordance with the Civil Rules on Court documents. PART 5 – COURT DOCUMENTS – Civil Procedure Rules – Justice UK. Any material submitted in closed proceedings is protected by the Justice and Security Act 2013 and will not be disclosed for reasons of national security.The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has access to secret and sensitive national security information in order to carry out his role. He routinely publishes his findings in reports that are available on his website: https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of current charging thresholds for domestic abuse-related common assault offences on the ability of the police to bring timely charges.

We remain committed to supporting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police in exploring how expanding police-led charging decisions for specific domestic abuse cases can improve outcomes for domestic abuse victims and survivors.The Home Office has been working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the CPS to expand police charging authority to include certain domestic abuse (DA) flagged offences, aligning with the ambitions of the Government’s Manifesto Commitments.As set out in the recent Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government will work with the CPS and police to strengthen access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This includes reviewing the time limits for charging domestic abuse-related summary offences and considering whether greater flexibility could help reduce the number of timed-out cases.

Whether charging thresholds for domestic abuse-related common assault support early intervention in cases of repeat offending; and whether she plans to review the existing charging framework.

We remain committed to supporting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police in exploring how expanding police-led charging decisions for specific domestic abuse cases can improve outcomes for domestic abuse victims and survivors.The Home Office has been working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the CPS to expand police charging authority to include certain domestic abuse (DA) flagged offences, aligning with the ambitions of the Government’s Manifesto Commitments.As set out in the recent Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government will work with the CPS and police to strengthen access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This includes reviewing the time limits for charging domestic abuse-related summary offences and considering whether greater flexibility could help reduce the number of timed-out cases.