Animals in Science Regulation Unit

(asked on 14th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the Change Programme on the welfare of animals, including the reduction of in-person inspections on animals and staff.


Answered by
Tom Pursglove Portrait
Tom Pursglove
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
This question was answered on 23rd March 2022

Each establishment licence holder has the responsibility at all times for the welfare of the animals within their establishment. Establishment licence holders are required to have governance systems in place to ensure all personal and project licence holders comply with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and to maintain compliance with the conditions on their own establishment licence. These requirements are defined in the Standard Conditions of licences.

In July 2021 the regulator initiated a new operating model that delivers a structured and integrated framework aligned with leading regulatory practice. In October of this year the regulator commenced a new system of full system audits that form part of an integrated system to assess compliance across the regulated community. The audit process and the evidence for assessment of compliance against the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and associated licence conditions, are available at: www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#process-and-standards-for-establishment-full-system-audits.

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