Written questions by Hobhouse.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with experts on (a) transitional science and (b) change management on the roadmap to phase out animal testing.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. This transition must be science-led and the Government has been consulting industry, academia and civil society as this process unfolds.Although we have not yet engaged specifically on translational science and change management, we will consider this as we move into implementation of the Strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, which we will publish later this year. We will shortly host a workshop with translational experts ahead of publication of the strategy.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that YouTube is compliant with the Online Safety Act 2023.

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to put in place systems and processes to remove illegal content on their services, including extreme misogynistic content. Ofcom has a broad range of powers to assess and enforce compliance with the Act, including issuing fines to services that do not comply. Ensuring that women are safe online is a priority for this government, and we have committed to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with YouTube on tackling extreme misogynistic content.

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to put in place systems and processes to remove illegal content on their services, including extreme misogynistic content. Ofcom has a broad range of powers to assess and enforce compliance with the Act, including issuing fines to services that do not comply. Ensuring that women are safe online is a priority for this government, and we have committed to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade.

Innovation and Technology, what the cost to his Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.

The details of any ministerial severance payments can be found in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.The 2023/2024 Annual Report and Accounts for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are to be published in due course.