Ruth Jones MP: written questions 2025
213 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Coronavirus: SurveysCabinet OfficeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43202More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the Office for National Statistics was of (a) designing, (b) building and (c) running the winter covid infection survey in (i) 2022-23 and (ii) 2023-24.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 1st April is attached.
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordReligious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria his Department uses to determine which countries are monitored for violations of freedom of religion or belief.
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSemiconductorsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the expected (a) timescale, (b) operating budget and (c) scale of the proposed National Semiconductor Institute are.
Answer: This government recognises the strategic importance of semiconductors as a critical technology for the future of the UK and a significant enabler of the government’s growth and clean energy missions. The Department recognises a number of challenges to gro...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSemiconductors: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in the semiconductor industry in south Wales.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is actively driving innovation in South Wales' semiconductor industry through strategic investments, collaborative research funding, and robust international partnerships. Recent initiatives include Vi...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on fostering interfaith tolerance in Myanmar in light of the recent military attacks on churches, monasteries, and oth
Answer: The UK supports the protection of all religious minority groups in Myanmar. We consistently raise concerns about the discrimination of religious minorities and their places of worship in international fora, including co-sponsoring a UN Human Rights Counci...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLithium-ion Batteries: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a nationwide kerbside collection for lithium-ion batteries and small Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will be supported by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventio...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMetals: Carbon EmissionsTreasuryTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39564More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of differentiating the emissions associated between pre- and post-consumer scrap metal in the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Answer: As set out in our response to the consultation on the introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), imported scrap products within the aluminum and iron & steel sectors will not be within scope of the CBAM, upon introduction from 1 Janu...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting minimum recycled content requirements for (a) new infrastructure projects and (b) finished steels.
Answer: The Government works with the Green Construction Board, part of the Construction Leadership Council, to reduce levels of waste within the industry, increase recycling, and support the transition to a circular economy. The Green Construction Board publishe...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMetalsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the amount of scrap metal produced in the UK, (b) the maximum demand for scrap metal that can be used in the UK and (c) the impact that a ban on scrap metal
Answer: My department funded a Warwick University report entitled ‘Domestic Scrap Steel Recycling – Economic, Environmental and Social Opportunities’, published February 2021, which shows that UK produces around 11.3mn tonnes of steel scrap and 1.1mn tonnes of al...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the call for investigations into the recent violence in Latakia, Syria, on religious communit
Answer: We welcome the interim authorities' establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the violence. We are in regular discussion with our UN and NGO partners, as well as with other international...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLead: Health and SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 24202 on Lead: Health and Safety, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the work undertaken by the Envir
Answer: Records show that the Environment Agency has spent approximately £425,000 on salary costs (including wages and direct overheads) for this work. This excludes wider organisational overheads (such as building maintenance and energy costs) and the Health and...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLead: Health and SafetyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 24202 on Lead: Health and Safety, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the assessment of lead ammunition restrictio
Answer: For the period 1 March 2021 to 15 March 2025, HSE’s full economic cost estimate is £700,000. This includes the costs of both HSE and independent scientific experts engaged in this work but excludes work undertaken by the Environment Agency.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the European Chemicals Agency to ensure that animal tests are not duplicated in the EU when the test has already been approved to fulfil
Answer: Animal testing of chemical substances is permitted under UK REACH only as a measure of last resort; this principle is reinforced by the Environment Act 2021. The last resort principle underpins the REACH testing proposal procedure. This procedure already ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent duplication of animal tests under UK REACH where data has already been submitted under EU REACH.
Answer: Animal testing of chemical substances is permitted under UK REACH only as a measure of last resort; this principle is reinforced by the Environment Act 2021. The last resort principle underpins the REACH testing proposal procedure. This procedure already ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) stakeholder engagement and (b) public participation in UK REACH processes that involve the generation of new data.
Answer: Animal testing of chemical substances is permitted under UK REACH only as a measure of last resort; this principle is reinforced by the Environment Act 2021. The last resort principle underpins the REACH testing proposal procedure. This procedure already ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the transparency of the UK REACH framework in relation to the generation of new data.
Answer: Animal testing of chemical substances is permitted under UK REACH only as a measure of last resort; this principle is reinforced by the Environment Act 2021. The last resort principle underpins the REACH testing proposal procedure. This procedure already ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) public and (b) civil society engagement on UK REACH testing proposal consultations since 2021.
Answer: Animal testing of chemical substances is permitted under UK REACH only as a measure of last resort; this principle is reinforced by the Environment Act 2021. The last resort principle underpins the REACH testing proposal procedure. This procedure already ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChemicals: EU LawDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to align with recent changes to EU classification, labelling and packaging regulations requiring regular and timely updates on non-animal science.
Answer: The United Kingdom (UK) is no longer required to implement changes to European Union (EU) legislation automatically following our withdrawal from the EU. This includes Regulation (EU) 2024/2865 of 23 October 2024, which amends the EU Classification Labell...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChemicalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on establishing a chemicals strategy; and whether this strategy will help phase out animal testing.
Answer: Delivery of a Chemicals Strategy was a commitment set by the previous Government. This commitment is being considered as part of the Government’s revision of the Environmental Improvement Plan. Beyond delivery of a Chemicals Strategy, the Government is co...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the use of artificial intelligence to target minority religious communities on freedom of religion or belie
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. The development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEU Countries: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his European counterparts to help tackle anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe.
Answer: There is no space for religious intolerance in pluralistic, modern societies. We are championing the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous DogsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs are registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs by (a) breed and (b) type.
Answer: As of the 12 March 2025, the total number of dogs registered on the Dangerous Dogs Index, broken down by breed type, is as follows. This excludes dogs that have died, destroyed or have been exported. Type of DogNumber on Dangerous Dogs IndexDogo Argentin...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHate CrimeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recent killing of Imam Muhsin Hendricks in South Africa; and whether he has had discussions
Answer: The tragic murder of Imam Muhsin Hendricks on 15 February strengthens our resolve to continue implementing our policies on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and LGBT+ rights to protect, support and promote individual human rights for all. The UK has be...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIran: Baha'i FaithForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the joint letter of 31 July 2024 issued by 18 United Nations Special Mechanisms, reference AL IR
Answer: The UK condemns Iran's restrictions against Freedom of Religion or Belief. Baha'is face particularly acute repression by the authorities in Iran, which includes but is not limited to unfair arrest, detention, and lengthy prison sentences. We are aware of ...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPakistan: MuslimsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security situation for the Shia Muslim community in Parachinar.
Answer: Promoting the rights and safety of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised the importance of religious tolerance and harmony, as well as the impact of rising extremism on vulnerable groups, when I met Pa...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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