We continue to support and recognise the value of biological research.

The potential security risk from dual-use of some biological research is recognised in the UK Biological Security Strategy and Government departments continue to monitor emerging technologies and work to mitigate these risks, whilst continuing to build the right regulatory environment for innovation.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have a position statement in place on Dual Use, jointly with the Welcome Trust https://mrc.ukri.org/research/policies-and-guidance-for-researchers/managing-risks-of-research-misuse/

The research community must take active steps to develop mechanisms of self-governance, and that through doing so researchers can ensure that responsibly conducted research is not unnecessarily obstructed. UKRI-BBSRC and UKRI-MRC also have internal processes in place to review research grant applicants where Dual Use concerns arise during the course of peer review.

We have invested tens of millions of pounds to reinforce border security at the juxtaposed ports, including through the installation of security fencing, floodlighting, anti-intrusion detection technology, and additional freight-searching contractors, dogs and security personnel. This has been complemented by increased French police numbers.

The cost of pre-departure accommodation is kept under review. The Home Office is currently considering the most cost-effective way of providing pre-departure accommodation within an enforced family returns service.

Operation Nexus has enabled the removal of more than 3,100 foreign criminals, including 269 offenders considered by the police to represent a serious threat since it was established in 2012. The Nexus model of joint working currently operates in nine forces across the UK and we are continuing to implement it across the whole of Great Britain.
Nexus work continues to make best use of all available information to tackle the threat, risk and harm posed by foreign national offenders

The Home Office provides support to local authority for Prevent activity based on an assessment of risk, to ensure that they understand the threat of extremism and are equipped to deal with it effectively. We currently fund 30 priority areas, plus an additional 14 areas which receive Home Office support for Prevent initiatives, but do not have a funded Prevent co-ordinator as in priority areas. Crawley is one of the additional areas.

Since June 2011 the Home Office has funded over 180 Prevent local authority projects. These include activity on education, internet safety, and families – all projects now address the risk of travel to Syria and Iraq in different ways. £40 million has been allocated for Prevent spending in 2014/15.

We know terrorist and extremist groups make extensive use of the internet and social media to spread their propaganda. The PM-chaired Extremism Taskforce established in the wake of the Woolwich attack made a number of recommendations for combating extremist propaganda, particularly online. The report from the ETF can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-extremism-in-the-uk-report-by-the-extremism-taskforce

Under the Government's Prevent strategy, which aims to stop people becoming involved in and supporting terrorism, our approach to challenging extremism online involves working with industry, law enforcement, civil society groups and the public. We have worked with

digital communications experts to help civil society groups exploit the potential of the internet, and we will be expanding this work in line with ETF recommendations.

This Government takes action against illegal terrorist content online. The police's Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) has removed over 26,000 pieces of illegal terrorist content online since February 2010. Under the proposed EFT measures, we are looking to further restrict access to illegal content hosted overseas. We are also working with industry to identify harmful extremist material to include within family friendly filters, to try to bring consistency to industry terms of use in respect of extremist content and to make it easier for the public to refer material of concern.

Under the Government’s Prevent strategy, which aims to stop people becoming involved in and supporting terrorism, we work closely with local authorities, the police, and other agencies to confront and disrupt extremism. The Prime Minister’s extremism taskforce has identified further practical steps to strengthen our response to all forms of extremism, and these are being taken forward.

Home Office inspectors have been investigating the allegations against Imperial College and we intend to publish a report later this year.

My noble Friend, Lord Taylor has met with the Imperial College establishment licence holder and other relevant senior individuals to discuss the independent investigative report that they have commissioned and agreed to publish. They have provided strong assurances of a rigorous inquiry.

It is imperative that lessons learned and broader issues for the wider community are taken from this incident. We have therefore requested the Government's independent expert advisory body, the Animals in Science Committee (ASC), to review both the inspectorate's report and Imperial College's independent report, when both are available, and to provide me with advice.

The ASC report will also be made public. Copies will be placed in the House Library.

It is not Home Office policy to disclose the risk assessment of an establishment licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 other than to the relevant establishment. The risk assessment is reviewed after each visit of inspection and is discussed at least annually with the establishment licence holder. The risk assessment is used to determine the frequency, duration and style of inspection and may vary as any relevant risks change. From January 2012 to March 2013 inclusive, Home Office inspectors made 48 visits to Imperial College in line with the risk assessment at that time.

We have no plans to do so. However, Inspectorate staffing is kept under regular review taking account of the expected workload. We are committed to maintaining a strong and properly resourced inspectorate and a full, risk-based programme of inspections.

We have no current plans to do so. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 provides powers for the Secretary of State to suspend or revoke a licence issued under the Act in any case in which it appears appropriate to do so. The Home Office Inspectorate is investigating recent allegations of cruel treatment of

animals, poor training and poor supervision at the Imperial College London Hammersmith Campus and delivered a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. This did not recommend immediate suspension or revocation of any relevant licences held at Imperial College London. The Inspectorate will provide a fuller report and recommendations by mid-July 2013. Further decisions on any action that may be appropriate will be considered in the light of those recommendations.

The Home Office does not assign a risk rating to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU). ASRU maintains a register of operational and other risks and associated mitigating actions which it reviews regularly and adjusts as and when necessary.

The use of living animals in scientific procedures which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm is strictly regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

We are determined to ensure animal research is carried out humanely and only when necessary and any reports suggesting that individuals or establishments are falling short of the high standards required by the 1986 Act are taken extremely seriously.

Home Office inspectors are investigating the allegations of cruelty and bad practice at the Imperial College Hammersmith campus as a matter of urgency and will submit a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. A fuller report and recommendations will be completed by mid-July 2013. A copy of that report will be placed in the Library.

The Government is unable to provide the information requested. Information provided by individual project licence holders and licensed establishments on the use of animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is provided in confidence and is covered by section 24 of the 1986 Act.

Section 24 prohibits the disclosure by Home Office Ministers and officials of confidential information relating to the use of animals in scientific procedures other than in the discharge of their functions under the 1986 Act. It creates a criminal offence and provides a maximum punishment of two years imprisonment and a fine for unauthorised disclosure of information. The Government has undertaken to review section 24 in the context of our commitment to transparency and we plan to present proposals for consultation during 2013.

To protect the health and safety of individuals and places licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 it is not our policy to publish details of the licences held at specific institutions.

All project licence applications must be accompanied by a project summary written in non-technical terms. The project summary must explain objectives of the programme of work specified in the application; describe the types of animal and estimate the number of each type that will be used; predict the harm to the animals that will be caused and benefits that will be gained by carrying out the programme of work; and demonstrate how the applicant will comply with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement throughout the project.

Home Office staff will assess the non-technical summaries to ensure they are a fair summary of the applications before they are published and that they highlight the anticipated harms to animals and benefits from the research as part of the process of assessing the project licence application.

No visits were made by the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) to the DSTL Porton Down site in 2010, 2011 or 2012.