§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any information that animal rights organisations may have been involved with illicit applications either as providers for, or recipients of, individual learning accounts; and, if so, when it was brought to their notice. [HL1727]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe police have arrested 38 people suspected in involvement in animal rights activities. Two of these were registered as ILA providers and the remainder were registered as learners. The police informed DfES of this involvement on 14 June 2001 and worked closely with the DIES Special Investigations Unit to pursue the investigation.