Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the non-technical summaries of project licences granted in 2025, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of beagles authorised for use in scientific procedures.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government remains committed to reducing and replacing the use of animals in science, including dogs. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 the statutory principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement require animals to be used only where there is no scientifically satisfactory alternative, in the minimum numbers necessary, and with procedures refined to minimise suffering. Through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, we are accelerating the development, validation and regulatory uptake of alternative methods, supported by investment, regulatory reform and strengthened delivery oversight. The strategy sets out a long-term vision to eliminate animal use in science wherever possible.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory timetable, as proposed by Herbie’s Law, for replacing the use of beagles for use in scientific procedures where validated non-animal methods are available.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Member for Falkirk to the answer provided on 17 July 2026 in response to UIN 18685.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to inform the public about (a) the risks posed by climate change and (b) steps that people and communities can take to reduce emissions and limit its effects.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

On 13 July, the Government delivered its second annual statement to Parliament on the state of climate and nature, which highlighted the latest evidence on climate change and nature loss.

Our Energising Britain plan sets out our role in providing trusted, impartial advice. A Clean Energy Mission website on GOV.UK provides households with clear, accessible and impartial information about the everyday actions people can take to cut bills, reduce emissions, and protect the environment.  An enhanced service, to be launched in Autumn this year, will provide tailored guidance and support, including information on measures such as heat pumps, solar panels and batteries, available funding and support schemes, accredited installers, and green finance options, all in one place.

This summer, the first annual Energising Britain events were hosted by Government and the Local Net Zero Hubs in Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and London, to celebrate and highlight community-led climate and nature action.

After this Summer’s unprecedented heatwaves, public concern has understandably risen. The Prime Minister will be hosting a Wildfire Summit and we are working with our Climate and Nature Security Taskforce on our resilience to a changing climate.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will draw upon the wide-ranging advice within the Animal Welfare Committee’s recent report on livestock breeding in all upcoming work. The report did not however provide an in-depth assessment of the welfare status of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As stated in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government supports voluntary efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds. Whilst no specific timescale has been set, the Government aims to progress the commitments in the Strategy by 2030.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will continue supporting voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds and is not currently considering a ban on these breeds.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s planned timetable is for introducing multi-use pet passports for travel from Great Britain to the EU.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.

Discussions on the SPS agreement are progressing, and Defra has committed, with the EU, to conclude negotiations before the next UK-EU Summit. Whilst negotiations are ongoing, we are unable to provide further details on delivery timelines for multiuse pet passports.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will commission a review of the potential impact of cannabis decriminalisation and legalisation abroad on levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

There are no current plans to commission a review of the potential impact of cannabis decriminalisation and legalisation abroad on levels of crime and anti-social behaviour (‘ASB’) in the UK.

The Government recognises the clear scientific evidence of the harms of cannabis and has no plans to change the law. Cannabis is an addictive substance and is controlled as a Class B drug.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’), the Government’s independent advisory body on drugs, has previously commented that the use of cannabis is a significant public health issue and can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society. The ACMD considered the question of cannabis harms most recently in its 2018 contribution to the work on policy relating to cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

We are working closely with partners overseas in source and transit countries to stem the supply of drugs into the UK, as part of an overall approach including law enforcement activity, investment in drug treatment and recovery, and prevention to reduce demand, in order to minimise crime and ASB on our streets.

Falkirk Football Community Foundation

Scotmid Co-operative Support for DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal

Publication of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Report on Human Rights and the Regulation of AI

Laurieston Bowling Club

Prohibiting Members of Parliament from having paid second jobs

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Found: Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough) Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme) Euan Stainbank