Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2022 to Question 97679 on Animals in Science Regulation Unit, if she will commission an independent review of the potential benefits of increasing the fees payable for licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to generate additional income to increase inspector numbers and reduce cases of non-compliance.

The Home Office has no plans to commission an independent review.

The Regulator regularly assesses its requirement for fee income for the delivery of protections to animals in compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Regulator’s capacity and capability for service delivery and compliance assurance purposes is aligned with the requirements defined in the legislation.