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Written Question
Porton Down: Animal Experiments
Friday 15th March 2019

Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on animal welfare standards at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down.

Answered by Ben Wallace

The UK has stringent requirements for the welfare standards of animals used in science. The requirements are set out in the Guidance on the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) that explains how the act is administered and enforced https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-the-operation-of-the-animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986

All establishments that use animals in science must fully comply with the Code of Practice for the housing and care of animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes. The Code provides advice about the way in which those responsible under ASPA may comply with those requirements. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#code-of-practice-for-the-care-and-accommodation-of-animals

All licensed establishments are inspected by the Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Unit to provide assurance of compliance with the requirements of ASPA. All Home Office inspectors are fully registered medical practitioners in the UK or Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.


Written Question
Immigration: Families
Friday 1st March 2019

Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for reducing bureaucracy for non-EEA residents seeking to bring family members to the UK.

Answered by Caroline Nokes

The family Immigration Rules prevent burdens on the taxpayer and promote integration. The Supreme Court agrees the family Immigration Rules strike a fair balance between the interests of those wishing to sponsor family to settle in the UK and of the community in general.

We have taken a number changes to simplify the process, for example, we have created online application forms, improved customer guidance and no longer ask for original documentary evidence in most cases. However, we recognise that there is more that can be done to simplify the Rules even further and have asked the Law Commission to review how this might be achieved. This work is ongoing and we will carefully consider their findings in due course.


Written Question
Immigration: EU Nationals
Friday 1st March 2019

Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department will assess ways in which aspects of the EU Settlement Scheme could inform aspects of the immigration system for non-EEA residents.

Answered by Caroline Nokes

As set out in the Government’s White Paper “The UK’s future skills-based immigration system” (Cm 9722) published on 19 December 2018, we will put the user at the heart of the design of our new single system, including legitimate travellers coming to visit, work or study here (and, of course, British and Irish citizens crossing the border), and the organisations that educate or employ them. In developing the new system and the technologies to support it, we will draw on lessons learnt during the delivery of the EU Settlement Scheme and consider whether they might be appropriate for use in the future system, for example the introduction of the ID verification app and the integrated use of data.


Written Question
Food: Scotland
Thursday 7th December 2017

Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with representatives of the Scottish food processing industry on that industry’s immigration needs after the ULK leaves the EU.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

After we leave the EU we will put in place an immigration system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK. Crucial to the development of this new immigration system will be the views from a range of businesses, including those in agriculture and the food and drink industries.

We have asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to assess the impact of immigration in the UK. We are carefully considering the options for the future immigration system and will set out our plans shortly.

The Prime Minister has clearly set out the need for an implementation period after we leave the EU so that both the EU and the UK can prepare for the future arrangements, to avoid a cliff edge and ensure that businesses and individuals only have to plan for one major set of changes.


Written Question
Fisheries: Scotland
Thursday 7th December 2017

Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on that industry’s immigration needs after the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

After we leave the EU we will put in place an immigration system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK. Crucial to the development of this new immigration system will be the views from a range of businesses, including those in agriculture and the food and drink industries.

We have asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to assess the impact of immigration in the UK. We are carefully considering the options for the future immigration system and will set out our plans shortly.

The Prime Minister has clearly set out the need for an implementation period after we leave the EU so that both the EU and the UK can prepare for the future arrangements, to avoid a cliff edge and ensure that businesses and individuals only have to plan for one major set of changes.