Ruth Jones MP: written questions
129 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal 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 recordNigeria: Freedom of Expression and Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support Nigeria to tackle (a) marginalisation of minority faith communities, (b) criminalisation of blasphemy and (c) other system
Answer: The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to protect freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. The right of individuals to express their beliefs or non-belief is essential for a free and open society. Our dialogue on human rights, including...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNigeria: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much humanitarian aid his Department has allocated to Nigeria for 2025; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that this aid reaches vulnerable communitie
Answer: In the Financial Year 2024/25, UK humanitarian support to Nigeria totalled £33.5 million in life-saving assistance. We have reached approximately one million people with our Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP), reducing mortality and increasing r...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of restrictions on (a) education, (b) work and (c) public life placed on women and girls by the T
Answer: We condemn the Taliban's draconian restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, which seriously affect their everyday lives. These restrictions and those on freedom of religion and belief and hamper Afghanistan's development. We support the initi...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChina: UyghursForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last made representations to his Chinese counterpart on the persecution of Uyghur Muslims.
Answer: This Government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities. The Foreign Secretary has raised this in every meeting with his Chinese counte...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterinary ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report entitled Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recommendations for future veterinary
Answer: The department acknowledges the calls from the veterinary sector to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Defra is actively engaging with stakeholders, including the RCVS, to explore how legislation can best address the needs of the profession and publ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAntisemitism: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide funding to help tackle antisemitism in other countries.
Answer: Antisemitism has no place in our, or any, society and the UK has a long-standing track record of fighting it.The UK currently holds the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), through which we have worked with IHRA's 35 memb...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Christians are being forced to convert to Buddhism in the Naga self-administered
Answer: The UK Government is committed to defending freedom of religion for all in Myanmar, including in the Naga self-administered zone. We remain concerned by the Race and Religion Laws in Myanmar, which are used to discriminate against non-Buddhists, including...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in England and Wales received discretionary housing payment after qualifying for local housing allowance in 2023-24.
Answer: We do not hold this information.Local authorities administer the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme as they are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are suppor...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities Act 2011Department for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to review the adequacy of the Charities Act 2011.
Answer: The government has no plans to conduct a review of the adequacy of the Charities Act 2011.DCMS regularly considers the charity regulatory landscape to ensure that charities are sufficiently transparent and accountable, and to ensure that the Charity Commi...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSwitzerland: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on freedom of religion or belief of the imposition of legal restrictions on the Burqa in public s
Answer: The UK continues to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. We are working to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora and in our important bilateral work. These are ultimately matters for the ...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress he has made on supporting (a) Rakhine Muslim and (b) Christian communities in Myanmar.
Answer: We are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all. Since 2017, the UK has provided over £48 million in aid including cash assistance and water, sanitation and hygiene services to the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Rakhine state....
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSoutheast Asia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on helping to improve freedom of religion or belief of minority Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia.
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 multilaterally, bilaterally...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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