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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many of the projects listed on the UKRI Gateway to Research portal awarded funding within each of the last five years involve the use of live animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

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

The UKRI Gateway to Research portal does not record whether projects involve the use of live animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Information is held separately by individual research councils and is not available as a UKRI-wide figure. The Medical Research Council identified 181 relevant grants in 2022, 166 in 2023, 155 in 2024 and 116 in 2025. Equivalent data for 2021 are unavailable. These figures exclude relevant research supported through MRC units and institutes, which is not reportable by calendar year. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council identified 74 relevant awards in 2021, 58 in 2022, 76 in 2023, 68 in 2024 and 56 in 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether any arms export licences for Israel which could materially contribute to the occupation of Palestine have been revoked since 8 September 2026.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has concluded that Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.

We have already suspended licences for equipment that might be used by the IDF in Gaza. This suspension remains in place. Additionally, we will now refuse all applications for exports that materially contribute to the occupation.

We have also reviewed all extant licences for exports to Israel on the same basis. All licences are maintained under careful and continual review, and we can and will suspend or revoke any that we assess materially contribute to the occupation.

No additional licences have been revoked or suspended since 8 September 2026. This is largely because licences for items that might materially contribute to the occupation have already been suspended because of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza conflict. We now have in effect an additional lock on relevant licences.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether there are any extant arms export licences for Israel that could be used to materially contribute to the occupation of Palestine.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has concluded that Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.

We have already suspended licences for equipment that might be used by the IDF in Gaza. This suspension remains in place. Additionally, we will now refuse all applications for exports that materially contribute to the occupation.

We have also reviewed all extant licences for exports to Israel on the same basis. All licences are maintained under careful and continual review, and we can and will suspend or revoke any that we assess materially contribute to the occupation.

No additional licences have been revoked or suspended since 8 September 2026. This is largely because licences for items that might materially contribute to the occupation have already been suspended because of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza conflict. We now have in effect an additional lock on relevant licences.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing legal protections for victims of domestic abuse in preventing economic abuse through the disposal, transfer or occupation of property.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that there is clear evidence of challenges faced by victim-survivors of domestic abuse in financial proceedings on divorce, including in relation to enforcement of financial orders, such as property adjustment orders. Enforcement is a critical issue within the wider context of domestic abuse, including economic abuse, as failures to secure compliance can perpetuate harm and undermine the intent of court orders. As outlined in the Government’s recent consultation, A Fairer End to Relationships, we recognise the importance of this issue and will give further careful consideration to how it might best be addressed.

The Government also recognises concerns about the adequacy of existing legal protections in preventing economic abuse through the disposal, transfer or occupation of property. Whilst protections exist for divorcing couples, the law does not currently provide a specific legislative framework giving financial rights and protections for cohabitants who separate. Our consultation proposed new framework of protections for cohabitants, and also asked for views on how domestic abuse, including economic abuse, could be taken into account in financial proceedings on divorce and in any future cohabitation proceedings. The consultation has now closed and the Government is considering the responses before finalising its policies.

The Department does not collect data on cases in which domestic abuse survivors are unable to access or occupy property awarded to them through family court proceedings.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mechanisms for enforcing family court property adjustment orders.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that there is clear evidence of challenges faced by victim-survivors of domestic abuse in financial proceedings on divorce, including in relation to enforcement of financial orders, such as property adjustment orders. Enforcement is a critical issue within the wider context of domestic abuse, including economic abuse, as failures to secure compliance can perpetuate harm and undermine the intent of court orders. As outlined in the Government’s recent consultation, A Fairer End to Relationships, we recognise the importance of this issue and will give further careful consideration to how it might best be addressed.

The Government also recognises concerns about the adequacy of existing legal protections in preventing economic abuse through the disposal, transfer or occupation of property. Whilst protections exist for divorcing couples, the law does not currently provide a specific legislative framework giving financial rights and protections for cohabitants who separate. Our consultation proposed new framework of protections for cohabitants, and also asked for views on how domestic abuse, including economic abuse, could be taken into account in financial proceedings on divorce and in any future cohabitation proceedings. The consultation has now closed and the Government is considering the responses before finalising its policies.

The Department does not collect data on cases in which domestic abuse survivors are unable to access or occupy property awarded to them through family court proceedings.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding his Department has provided to Government research councils for (a) animal-based research and (b) the development of non-animal experimentation methods in each of the last five years.

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

It is not possible to provide an overall funding figure for research councils funding for animal-based research and the development of non-animal methods, as funding is not generally allocated to UKRI based on specific research approaches. UKRI funds research on the basis of scientific excellence and need. Through its standard funding processes, UKRI only supports research involving animals where no scientifically acceptable non-animal alternative exists and where researchers have properly considered and applied the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs). UKRI also supports non-animal approaches, including through investment in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department collects on cases in which domestic abuse survivors are unable to access or occupy property awarded to them through family court proceedings.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that there is clear evidence of challenges faced by victim-survivors of domestic abuse in financial proceedings on divorce, including in relation to enforcement of financial orders, such as property adjustment orders. Enforcement is a critical issue within the wider context of domestic abuse, including economic abuse, as failures to secure compliance can perpetuate harm and undermine the intent of court orders. As outlined in the Government’s recent consultation, A Fairer End to Relationships, we recognise the importance of this issue and will give further careful consideration to how it might best be addressed.

The Government also recognises concerns about the adequacy of existing legal protections in preventing economic abuse through the disposal, transfer or occupation of property. Whilst protections exist for divorcing couples, the law does not currently provide a specific legislative framework giving financial rights and protections for cohabitants who separate. Our consultation proposed new framework of protections for cohabitants, and also asked for views on how domestic abuse, including economic abuse, could be taken into account in financial proceedings on divorce and in any future cohabitation proceedings. The consultation has now closed and the Government is considering the responses before finalising its policies.

The Department does not collect data on cases in which domestic abuse survivors are unable to access or occupy property awarded to them through family court proceedings.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's press release of 26 August 2026 entitled New counter-terror hub launched to protect British communities, when she plans to publish (a) the name, (b) the terms of reference and (c) any guidance or operating framework of the diversion programme discussed therein.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

At the Five Country Ministerial in Sydney, August 2026, Five Eyes partners agreed to the Home Office proposal to establish a Countering Violent Extremism Hub in London. This was agreed as a practical way to strengthen our existing cooperation on shared countering violent extremism challenges. The detailed design of the Hub is now being developed with Five Eyes partners, including its Terms of Reference.

The Home Office also announced the development of a new online interventions programme, beginning with a pilot to develop and test a rights-compliant, safeguarding-led approach to identifying and supporting individuals vulnerable to online radicalisation at an earlier stage. The detailed design of the programme remains under development. Decisions on matters such as consultation, publication of programme documentation and any longer-term delivery arrangements will be considered as that work progresses

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to consult publicly on the design of the diversion programme announced on 26 August 2026.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

At the Five Country Ministerial in Sydney, August 2026, Five Eyes partners agreed to the Home Office proposal to establish a Countering Violent Extremism Hub in London. This was agreed as a practical way to strengthen our existing cooperation on shared countering violent extremism challenges. The detailed design of the Hub is now being developed with Five Eyes partners, including its Terms of Reference.

The Home Office also announced the development of a new online interventions programme, beginning with a pilot to develop and test a rights-compliant, safeguarding-led approach to identifying and supporting individuals vulnerable to online radicalisation at an earlier stage. The detailed design of the programme remains under development. Decisions on matters such as consultation, publication of programme documentation and any longer-term delivery arrangements will be considered as that work progresses

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce legislation to give the diversion programme announced on 26 August 2026 a statutory basis.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

At the Five Country Ministerial in Sydney, August 2026, Five Eyes partners agreed to the Home Office proposal to establish a Countering Violent Extremism Hub in London. This was agreed as a practical way to strengthen our existing cooperation on shared countering violent extremism challenges. The detailed design of the Hub is now being developed with Five Eyes partners, including its Terms of Reference.

The Home Office also announced the development of a new online interventions programme, beginning with a pilot to develop and test a rights-compliant, safeguarding-led approach to identifying and supporting individuals vulnerable to online radicalisation at an earlier stage. The detailed design of the programme remains under development. Decisions on matters such as consultation, publication of programme documentation and any longer-term delivery arrangements will be considered as that work progresses

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations her Department has consulted to date on the diversion programme announced on 26 August 2026.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

At the Five Country Ministerial in Sydney, August 2026, Five Eyes partners agreed to the Home Office proposal to establish a Countering Violent Extremism Hub in London. This was agreed as a practical way to strengthen our existing cooperation on shared countering violent extremism challenges. The detailed design of the Hub is now being developed with Five Eyes partners, including its Terms of Reference.

The Home Office also announced the development of a new online interventions programme, beginning with a pilot to develop and test a rights-compliant, safeguarding-led approach to identifying and supporting individuals vulnerable to online radicalisation at an earlier stage. The detailed design of the programme remains under development. Decisions on matters such as consultation, publication of programme documentation and any longer-term delivery arrangements will be considered as that work progresses

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2026 to question UIN 27117, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of further international co-ordination on Public Country by Country Reporting.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 10 September 2026 to Question UIN 27117.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will review the decision to exclude trainer aircraft components from arms export suspensions on Israel.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We assess that trainer aircraft are not used in Gaza and that they do not materially contribute to Israel's illegal occupation. We keep all licences under continuous and careful review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether any goods, software, technology or equipment exported from the UK to Israel under extant export licences have been identified by his Department as being used for the operation, security, surveillance or management of Israeli prisons or detention facilities holding Palestinian detainees.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This Government would not issue or maintain an export licence where there is a clear risk the goods might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of Internal Humanitarian Law (IHL), including with respect to the treatment of detainees. Additionally, in light of the unlawful occupation, we will now refuse all licence applications to Israel for exports that materially contribute to the occupation.

We have also reviewed all extant licences for exports to Israel on the same basis. All licences are maintained under careful and continual review, and we can and will suspend or revoke licences where we assess them to be no longer compliant.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of placing sanctions on (a) Pearson Engineering Limited and( b) other UK-based companies that are (i) owned and (ii) partially controlled by the Israeli ministry of finance.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government does not comment on individual companies or speculate on potential designations. When developing any sanctions we consult with a range of key stakeholders, including international partners, other government departments, and enforcement agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement on 8 September, new measures will be carefully designed to target trade with illegal settlements or those aiding and abetting their expansion and protect legitimate trade between the UK and Israel.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on improving protections for domestic abuse survivors.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to improve protections and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Through our cross-government approach to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, we are strengthening access to safe accommodation, improving support for victims with complex needs, and delivering a more joined-up response across housing, justice and local services.

Through the Social Housing Bill, which my Department is supporting, MHCLG is introducing stronger protections for social housing tenants experiencing domestic abuse, including measures to help victims remain safely in their homes, transfer joint tenancies into their sole name where appropriate, and prevent perpetrators from using housing arrangements to continue abuse. Alongside this, MHCLG is providing £499 million over the next three years through the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Duty to help ensure victims fleeing abuse can access safe accommodation, while my Department is investing over £550 million over the same period in victim support services, and working to improve victims’ experiences of the justice system.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to my Office's correspondence, dated 29 April 2026, on behalf of SKT Welfare.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response provided on 10 September to Question 24715.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will investigate whether British nationals serving in the Israel Defence Forces may have materially contributed to the occupation of Palestine.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK recognises the right of British dual nationals to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of the country of their other nationality. Nevertheless, as with any conflict, if you travel overseas to fight, or to assist others engaged in conflict, depending on the circumstances and evidence, your activities while fighting may amount to offences under UK law and you could be prosecuted on your return to the UK. Decisions on the investigation of any alleged criminal offences are a matter for the relevant authorities.

Autumn Budget 2026 (No. 4)

Autumn Budget 2026 (No. 2)

Garvaghy Road

Fur Belongs to Animals campaign

Birmingham Four

150th anniversary of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876

Multilateral funding for education

Autumn Budget 2026

Taxation of bank windfall profits

National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers