Ruth Jones MP: written questions
342 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration he has given to the additional energy needs of disabled people who do not receive means tested benefits when evaluating potential energy bill support for households as a re
Answer: The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely. Contingency planning...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to lay the Activity Regulations to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and which activities she plans to prioritise.
Answer: The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. As set out in the animal welf...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLeave: PetsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of pet-related work absences, including those linked to veterinary care and emergencies.
Answer: The Government does not collect or hold information on the reasons for absence relating to the care of pets, including those linked to veterinary care and emergencies. Employers are responsible for managing wider categories of employee absence, including ...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: PetsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) companion animal care functions and (b) informal caregiving on labour market participation.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions has made no assessment of pet‑related factors on labour market participation, productivity or flexibility. The Government does not collect or hold information on the impact that pet ownership has on the labour market. ...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: PetsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of pet ownership on a) productivity, b) labour market participation and c) flexibility.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions has made no assessment of pet‑related factors on labour market participation, productivity or flexibility. The Government does not collect or hold information on the impact that pet ownership has on the labour market. ...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: Disclosure of InformationHome OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of expanding the Police's right of disclosure to include incidents of animal abuse.
Answer: The Police National Computer holds all relevant information for prosecutions made for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Certain organisations, including non-police public bodies such as the Disclosure and Barring Service and the C...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ConvictionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a national animal abuse register to record the names of people who have been found guilty of crimes against animals.
Answer: The Government does not currently have plans to assess the benefits of a national animal abuse register. Defra continue to work closely with enforcement partners to strengthen existing protections for animals.
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordVietnam: Political Prisoners and Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Vietnam regarding the release of political prisoners requiring medical care; and what steps she is taking to promote fr
Answer: Vietnam is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Freedom of Religion and Belief Strategy, launched in July 2025, and we raise the issue on a regular basis with the Government of Vietnam. We also regularly raise concerns abo...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: FacilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential risks to supply chains of inadequate roadside facilities for lorry drivers.
Answer: The Department for Transport has not carried out an assessment of the potential risks to supply chains of inadequate roadside facilities. The National Survey of Lorry Parking was last conducted in 2022 and provided the evidence base for the HGV Parking Ma...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: FacilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of regional disparities in the availability of lorry diver facilities; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure consistent provision across England.
Answer: A national survey of lorry parking is underway to provide a fresh baseline on the availability of secure lorry parking and HGV driver welfare provision throughout England. This will include region by region analysis of overnight lorry parking, utilisation...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordParents: Advisory ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of international models of digital parenting support for screen time, such as in Australia.
Answer: On 27 March, the government published guidance on screen time for children aged 0 to 5 on the Best Start in Life website. The guidance is informed by an expert panel’s independent report on quantitative and qualitative research, including engagement with ...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordParents: Advisory ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what learnings she has taken from the PESP rollout in Australia when developing the commitment to the digital parenting offer contained in the BSIL strategy.
Answer: The Best Start in Life strategy sets out the government’s commitment to widening access to high-quality, evidence-based parenting and home learning environment support. This will help ensure that families receive the interventions most effective in suppor...
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 117875 on Animal Experiments: Licensing, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funding mentioned in her answer for the
Answer: The Government has announced £75m of funding to accelerate alternatives and innovation, with new capabilities being developed across the UK. This funding will help bring forward advanced testing methods that can save lives and support a faster, science‑le...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: WalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions has she had with representatives from Welsh Government on the results of its automatic voter registration pilots.
Answer: The Welsh Government’s automatic voter registration pilots are discussed when Ministers from across the UK attend the regular meetings of the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Elections and Registration. The meetings are led by the ministers with election ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEbbw Valley Railway LineDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of opening a new station at Crumlin as part of proposals to re-open the Abertillery spur of the Ebbw Vale Line.
Answer: In February the Prime Minister and the First Minister endorsed Transport for Wales’ ‘Today, Tomorrow, Together’ vision for rail investment in Wales, confirming that it should form the basis of the Wales Rail Board’s future pipeline of projects. The vision...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many animals were used in LD50 tests to evidence compliance with UK-only regulations in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Home Office publishes detailed annual statistics on the use of animals in science, including procedures for acute and subacute toxicity testing which covers tests such as LD50 (Lethal Dose 50) and LC50 (Lethal Concentration 50). These figures represen...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps is she taking to end the use of the LD50 test for UK-only regulations.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 December 2025 to Question 96750.
Answered 20 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrapping: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to bring forward legislation to outlaw the use of snare traps.
Answer: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation and this included a commitment to bring an end to the use of snare traps in England. This was recently reaffirmed in the Government’s ...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrapping: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has her Department made in reviewing traps aside from snares used to catch wildlife.
Answer: In the Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025, the Government committed to ban the use of snares in England and conduct a review of other traps used to catch wildlife in England for which welfare concerns have been raised. The Animal and Plan...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreyhound Racing: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Welsh Government on (a) proposals to ban greyhound racing and (b) regulations to improve greyhound welfare.
Answer: Defra officials engage regularly with officials in the Welsh Government on a range of animal welfare issues.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreyhound Racing: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a ban on greyhound racing in England.
Answer: The Animal Welfare strategy published in December 2025 sets out Government priorities until 2030. The Government currently has no plans to ban greyhound racing. While the Government recognises the concerns some people have about greyhound racing, there is...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGreyhounds: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of regulations on greyhound welfare in the racing industry.
Answer: The welfare of racing greyhounds in England is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 (the 2010 Regulations). The 2010 Regulations include a number of welfare requirements, such as requiring all greyho...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Products: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward legislation to ban the importation of hunting trophies.
Answer: The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRepairs and Maintenance: VATTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120005More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report entitled Tenure change: turning existing dwellings and buildings in social homes, published by the Bevan Foundation and Shelter Cymru i
Answer: To support the re-use of existing buildings for new homes, conversions of buildings from a commercial to residential use, the renovation of properties that have been empty for two or more years, and conversions from one residential use to another all bene...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: SemiconductorsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is his Department taking to support a resilient supply of semiconductors to support sovereign defence capabilities.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, The Department for Business and Trade and the Ministerial chaired Semiconductor Advisory Panel, alongside UK industry and allied partners, to ensure assured...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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