Ruth Jones MP: written questions 2025
213 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to accelerate the phasing out of the use of the LD50 test; and if she will set out a timetable for that phasing out.
Answer: The strategy uses ‘baskets’ to group animal tests according to their readiness for replacement, based on maturity of potential alternative methods. These initial baskets will be refined in consultation with stakeholders, noting that two LD/LC50 tests are ...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordShellfish: Animal Welfare and ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current legal protection regime for decapod crustaceans; and what steps is she taking to strengthen protections of the welfare of de
Answer: The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. Defra has commissioned research to address a knowledge gap about how live decapods move from sea to plate. This is due to fin...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordShellfish: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect the welfare of live decapod crustaceans while held in commercial premises prior to sale.
Answer: The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. Defra has commissioned research to address a knowledge gap about how live decapods move from sea to plate. This is due to fin...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCuba: Gender Based ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on reports of gender-based violence against women human rights defenders.
Answer: Our relationship with Cuba allows for frank dialogue, including on matters on which we do not agree. Our Ambassador in Havana has raised recent human rights cases with the Ministry of External Relations, and we work with likeminded partners to make clear ...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMotabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Government's proposed changes to Motability on those with standard leases.
Answer: The Motability Scheme will continue to offer a choice of vehicles to meet a range of accessibility needs. The Scheme will continue to offer vehicles which require no advance payment, meaning that people will be able to access a suitable vehicle using only...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLivestock: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 89 of the Annual Report for 2023 on Official Controls performed in Great Britain under the OCR Multi-Annual National Control Plan published by her Department, wh
Answer: The reference to game birds (p89) in the Multi Annual National Control Plan reflects increased public interest in a relatively new and emerging area of welfare oversight. In contrast, farmed livestock have long been a priority for both regulators and the ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLivestock: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 89 of the Annual Report for 2023 on Official Controls performed in Great Britain under the OCR Multi-Annual National Control Plan, what assessment she has made o
Answer: The Annual Report notes that inspection frequency for game bird establishments was increased in response to public interest. This was an exceptional measure for that sector.Public perception is an important consideration, but for livestock farms animal we...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms and Slaughterhouses: InspectionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of a) farms and b) slaughterhouses are inspected each year; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that proportion on animal welfare standards.
Answer: a). In 2023, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) undertook 1381 visits, inspecting 3001 herd and flocks. APHA operates an intelligence- and risk-based inspection regime, prioritising cases where significant animal suffering has been identified. Ther...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhouses: InspectionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will consider increasing the transparency of operations by the Animal and Plant Health Agency in line with the Food Standards Agency's audits of slaughterhouses.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the importance of transparency in animal welfare regulation. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) publish details of successful prosecutions in its annual report to Parliament, as required by Section 80 of the Animal Healt...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: South WalesDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of (a) opening new or (b) reopening former railway stations on economic regeneration of towns in the South Wales coalfield.
Answer: The Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy committed to deliver at least £445 million of rail enhancements in Wales, including the provision of £48 million to the Welsh Government to upgrade the Core Valley Lines and increase connectivity. The Wales ...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEbbw Valley Railway LineDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of proposals to re-open the Abertillery spur of the Ebbw Vale Line.
Answer: The Wales Rail Board works with both the UK and Welsh governments, as well as local transport authorities and community leaders, to identify and advance rail projects that best meet the specific needs of each region.In relation to the Abertillery Spur, th...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: IslwynDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impacts of (a) low car ownership and (b) difficulties in accessing rail travel on economic opportunities for deprived communities in Islwyn.
Answer: The Department for Transport recognises the importance of improving connectivity for communities with low car ownership and limited access to rail services. Through the Wales Rail Board, we are working in close partnership with the Welsh Government to dev...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBiocidal Products: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to question 86529, whether divergence between EU and GB mandatory hazard classifications for the same substance will change under HSE proposals for changing GB
Answer: From 23 June to 18 August 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consulted on proposals to reform three pieces of chemicals legislation: Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR); Great Britain Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CL...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBiocidal Products: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to question 86529, what proportion of EU hazard classifications adopted since 1 January 2021 have received (a) no mandatory classification and (b) a different m
Answer: Since 2021, the mandatory classification and labelling of 232 chemicals have been formally adopted by the EU. In Great Britain (GB), the mandatory classification and labelling of 206 chemicals have been formally adopted, over the same period with the rema...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBiocidal Products: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Environmental Principles Policy Statement was considered by the Health and Safety Executive in developing legislative proposals for changing GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging and GB Bio
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has considered the Environmental Principles Policy Statement throughout the development of its legislative proposals for amendments to its three chemicals regimes: Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChemicals: RegulationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Health and Safety Executive plans to publish (a) next steps and its formal response to the consultation on proposals for changing GB CLP and GB BPR and (b) draft legislation to enact those prop
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) response to the Chemicals Legislative Reform Proposals consultation, which took place from 23 June 2025 to 18 August 2025, is expected to be published in early 2026 subject to Ministerial approval. The consultation ...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of ending the routine culling of day-old male chicks in the UK egg industry; and whether the forthcoming Animal Welfare
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHunting Act 2004Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consult on legislative steps to strengthen provisions in the Hunting Act 2004.
Answer: The Government recognises that concerns persist around illegal hunting being carried out under the guise of trail hunting; that is why we have already committed in our manifesto to put an end to trail hunting. The Government will launch a consultation in ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the Animal Welfare Strategy.
Answer: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. As set out by the Prime Minister, we will publish our Animal Welfare Strategy this year which will set out our priorities for animal ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDemocratic Republic of the Congo: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of her policies of the recent ADF attack on Byambwe Reference Health Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 24 November to Question 91327.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCameroon: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with international partners concerning the recent crackdown on citizens in Cameroon following the elections.
Answer: Throughout the electoral process, we encouraged the Government of Cameroon to strengthen democratic institutions, highlighting the vital role of civil society in fostering dialogue and stability, and funded innovative approaches to promote political inclu...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: ManagersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to fund the work of the Health and Care Professions Council in regulating NHS managers.
Answer: I met with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) most recently on 29 October 2025, where work to introduce National Health Service managers into statutory regulation was discussed.Department officials are working with the HCPC to identify the cos...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: ManagersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he last met the Health and Care Professions Council to discuss its planned role in regulating NHS managers.
Answer: I met with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) most recently on 29 October 2025, where work to introduce National Health Service managers into statutory regulation was discussed.Department officials are working with the HCPC to identify the cos...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSri Lanka: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the protection of Christians in Sri Lanka.
Answer: The UK supports the right to freedom of religion or belief for all and regularly raises the importance of religious tolerance and the protection of rights for all Sri Lankans to practise their faith. Our High Commission in Colombo regularly meet governmen...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSudan: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the protection of civilians following the capture of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces on 26 Oc
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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