Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4425, what comparative assessment she has made of the potential merits of a) industry led welfare standards for decapods, supported by voluntary reporting, and b) introducing new regulatory standards on the welfare of decapods used in science.

The Home Office has committed to a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for the protections of decapods used in science. This will support welfare improvements now while further evidence is gathered to inform any future consideration of regulation.

There is merit in this approach as welfare standards can be introduced more quickly because they can build on existing good practice through voluntary standards and training and reporting, whereas regulatory standards under ASPA require further evidence, technical development and preparation before legally enforceable requirements could be introduced.