Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with OECD) about updating the OECD counterparts on recognised methods for assessing toxicity in the context of the Government's commitment to phase out the use of the a) LC50 and b) LD50 tests.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK has OECD representatives who were involved in developing our strategy to replace animals in science, and will be involved in its delivery. The strategy groups animal tests according to their readiness for replacement, based on maturity of potential alternative methods. These initial baskets will be refined in consultation with stakeholders, noting that two LD/LC50 tests are already in baskets 1 and 2 (botulinum potency and fish acute toxicity tests respectively) so are among the first targeted for phase-out. We will also establish a UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM) to accelerate alternative method uptake.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she had with (a) the Financial Conduct Authority, (b) Ofwat, (c) Ofgem and (d) Ofcom on ensuring (i) services are accessible to residents who are not online and (ii) issues around digital exclusion are consistently embedded in regulator guidance on dealing with vulnerable customers.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Digital inclusion can transform people’s lives for the better. Families can save money on their groceries and energy bills when they shop online; those looking for work can find better job opportunities and earn more; and people can more easily access the services they need – including the NHS and welfare.
That is why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which sets out our immediate actions to deliver digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, regardless of their circumstances.
We encourage providers of key services important to people’s daily lives – like banking and utilities – to prioritise inclusive and accessible services for everyone. We are working with industry, the Regulators and the voluntary sector to champion access for digitally excluded customers, including vulnerable people. That is why, for example, the government’s recent Financial Inclusion Strategy highlighted the commitment we have agreed with the financial services industry to rollout 350 banking hubs by the end of this parliament.
We also want to make government digital services easier to access. Legal requirements should ensure public sector websites and apps meet accessibility requirements, and there is published best practice to provide alternative routes such as phone lines, in-person support and paper forms.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she taking to assess the digital inclusivity of services offered through (a) Gov.uk and (b) the wider public sector.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Central Government assesses digital inclusivity of GOV.UK and wider public sector services through service assessment teams within GDS and Departments. These teams review services against the Government Service Standard, requiring user research with diverse groups, ongoing evaluation, and data on uptake and satisfaction. The Government Digital Service also monitors compliance of public sector websites and apps with accessibility regulations.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor the Exchequer on funding to support delivery of the long-term objectives in the Digital Inclusion Action Plan.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT ministers and officials have worked closely with His Majesty’s Treasury to secure funding for digital inclusion that demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering digital inclusion for everyone across the UK, regardless of their circumstances.
On 10 December, DSIT confirmed total funding of £11.7mn has been allocated across 80 projects through the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, to ensure everyone has access to the skills, support and confidence they need to take part in a modern digital society. This builds on the previously announced £9.5mn.
This is a first step, alongside a series of others, set out in the Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan published in February. While we are currently focused on helping people by delivering these commitments, the ambition is for everyone to benefit from the digital world—whether that’s saving money on bills, finding a better job, or accessing vital services like the NHS more easily.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when will her Department publish the Government's response to its call for evidence following the publishing of its Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government wants everyone to benefit from the digital world—whether that’s saving money on bills, finding a better job, or accessing vital services like the NHS more easily.
On 17 July the government published a summary of responses to our call for evidence, on GOV.UK, which provides a thematic overview of the responses received.
Overall, we received positive feedback on the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, including on the target population groups, the objectives across each of the four focus areas, and the medium- and long-term next steps.
The government has taken the call for evidence responses into account when refining its approach to delivering the Action Plan, and will continue to draw on them to inform future policy development.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to accelerate the phasing out of the use of the LD50 test; and if she will set out a timetable for that phasing out.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The strategy uses ‘baskets’ to group animal tests according to their readiness for replacement, based on maturity of potential alternative methods. These initial baskets will be refined in consultation with stakeholders, noting that two LD/LC50 tests are already in baskets 1 and 2 (botulinum potency and fish acute toxicity tests respectively) so are among the first targeted for phase-out. The Acutox test is a non-regulatory test and not yet validated for use in safety assessments. We will establish a new UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM) to accelerate alternative method validation and uptake for regulatory decision making.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of animal-free tests such as the AcutoX for phasing out the LD50 test.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The strategy uses ‘baskets’ to group animal tests according to their readiness for replacement, based on maturity of potential alternative methods. These initial baskets will be refined in consultation with stakeholders, noting that two LD/LC50 tests are already in baskets 1 and 2 (botulinum potency and fish acute toxicity tests respectively) so are among the first targeted for phase-out. The Acutox test is a non-regulatory test and not yet validated for use in safety assessments. We will establish a new UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM) to accelerate alternative method validation and uptake for regulatory decision making.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the proposed roadmap for the phasing out animal testing for chemicals being developed by the European Commission.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to supporting alternatives to animals in science and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. We have reviewed the European Commission's (EC) Life Sciences Strategy and engaged with the European Medicines Agency on accelerating the science-led adoption of alternatives for a range of uses of animals in science, including chemicals, medicines and cosmetics. Government officials regularly attend international meetings to collaborate on best practice and consider approaches to reducing reliance on animal testing, including attending European Commission workshops on the EC roadmap to phasing out animal testing for chemicals.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her Department plans to publish the alternative methods to animal testing strategy.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.
The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods by the end of this year.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies on phasing out animal testing of the Federal Drug Agency's Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies, published in April 2025.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the hon. Member for Newport West and Islwyn to the answer that was provided on 15 May 2025 to Question UIN 51423.