Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, by when the Animals in Science Regulation Unit will a) complete its Regulatory Reform programme and b) implement a new target operating model.

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) launched its new organisational design and operating model in late 2025. This included increasing the size of the inspectorate from an average of 14.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts in 2023 to 22 FTE in 2026, strengthening the Regulator’s ability to scrutinise, monitor and assure compliance of regulated establishments with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. ASRU has also introduced specialist roles and functions to strengthen data analysis, quality monitoring and overall regulatory performance.

The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy ‘Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods’, later in 2026.