Parliamentary Written Question - TABLED

On 29 October 2025, the Parliamentary Written Question was tabled; asking the Home Office about the work on “clarifying Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Link to the Parliamentary Written Question to see the full question and answer.

Renewed Parliamentary Pressure

MPs have been asking via PWQ ever since the consultation on Revising Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 closed on June 2014. The last time was in October 2023[1].

A new PWQ continues to put pressure on the government.

Parallel Pressure Alongside FOI

The Freedom of Information request has for the first time, publicly forced the government o admit the existence of the 2014 consultation report. This report holds the key to changing the law that criminalises disclosure of information about animal experiments; Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

What next?

The government’s response to the PWQ gives me valuable insight as I prepare for the tribunal, in anticipation of the ICO’s decision notice being in favour of the Home Office.

The Written Question tabled to Parliament

“

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 202528 on Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, when the policy work to clarify Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was (a) commenced, (b) paused and (c) resumed.

“