Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, what assessment they have made of the incident in which 26 mice were found to have drowned when their cage flooded overnight due to a leaking water valve; whether they have considered the adequacy of a 'letter of reprimand' being issued as a sanction in response; and what actions they will be taking to prevent animals who are being kept for the purpose of scientific experiments from drowning in future.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.

Regarding the incidents referenced, ASRU investigated the incidents and acted according to the published compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how ASRU identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.

All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the cost was of developing in-house army training as an alternative to the contract that was secured by Raytheon; and what assessment they have made of the security and resilience considerations of outsourcing army training to a company with US ownership.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No final decision has yet been made to award the Army Collective Training Service contract to become the Army’s Strategic Training Partner to Raytheon Systems UK. This decision will be made in due course following consideration of the programme’s Full Business Case. As The Full Business Case has not yet been finalised it would be inappropriate to release cost information at this stage.

The Army Collective Training Service contract is not an outsourcing of Army training. Many contractors already support Army training, including Raytheon Systems UK. If awarded, the Army Collective Training Service contract will consolidate many of these existing contracts. The Army, in partnership with the Strategic Training Partner, will transform the support and delivery of collective training while maintaining responsibility for delivery. All tenderers underwent security assessments during prequalification and as part of the tender evaluation, in line with Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations 2011.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to uphold their previous commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies; and whether they plan to introduce further legislation.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter.

The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban.

Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, what assessment they have made of the two incidents in which live animals were found to have been accidentally put into waste bags; whether they have considered the adequacy of 'letters of reprimand' being issued as a sanction in response; and what actions they will be taking to prevent such incidents from taking place in future.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.

Regarding the incidents referenced, ASRU investigated the incidents and acted according to the published compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how ASRU identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.

All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type A'), and (2) non-UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type B’ or ‘Type C’), have acquired a direct interest in land or property in Scotland since the Trust Registration Service was expanded in May 2021.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Although the Trust Registration Service does record information on trusts that have acquired a direct interest in land or property in the UK, in most cases the register only records limited information on where within the UK these lands or properties are located. As such, I cannot provide a complete answer to this question with respect to Scotland.

I can however answer this question with respect to the UK overall. From May 2021 (when the Trust Registration Service was expanded to accept registrations from non-taxable trusts) to 5 April 2025 (the end of the last tax year), c.77,000 trusts notified the Trust Registration Service that the trustees had acquired a direct interest in UK land or property on or after 6 October 2020. Of this figure, c.76,000 are UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type A') and c.1000 are non-UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type B’ or ‘Type C’).