Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards bringing forward regulations to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and when she intends to lay such regulations before Parliament.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, Defra is continuing to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussion she had with the Welsh Government on the potential devolution of decision making on UK Government funded R&D grants in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
I am committed to working closely with the Welsh Government on innovation and economic growth. On 20 May, I held my first call with the new First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth. I made clear the benefit of both the UK and Welsh Governments working together on shared priorities around the cost of living and poverty as well as public services and economic growth, including the delivery of clean energy infrastructure in Wales.
R&D funding is partially devolved; Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25, £150 million R&D funding was invested through the Welsh Government and Medr.
In addition, through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), we are also empowering local leaders in 17 regions across the UK to target R&D investment and unleash their full innovation potential. The Government is investing up to £50 million through the LIPF in Wales between 2026 and 2031, this includes £30 million for Cardiff Capital Region and £20 million for South West Wales. The Government is also considering the future of LIPF in the nations.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the devolution of decision making on UK Government funded R&D grants in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
My department works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UKRI on our shared priorities, including the distribution of R&D funding to Wales where we have seen an increase of £31 million in UKRI investment between 2021/22 and 2023/24. The Government is investing up to £50 million through the Local Innovation Partnership Fund in Wales between 2026 and 2031, this includes £30 million for Cardiff Capital Region and £20 million for South West Wales. The Government is also considering the future of LIPF in the nations.
R&D funding is partially devolved; Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25, £150 million R&D funding was invested through the Welsh Government and Medr.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Independent review of police force structures will report their findings; and when she plans to publish that review.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Police Reform White Paper, published on 26 January 2026, set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing, so that it is fit for the modern world and we have the right policing in the right places. We will ensure local police forces are equipped to make their local communities safer and implement a new national approach to policing that protects us all.
The Independent Review of Police Force Structures was launched on 17 March 2026 and will make recommendations on the optimum number and configuration of police forces. The Chair will report their recommendations to the Home Secretary in the summer.
The Government will publish the Independent Review’s findings and its response in the autumn.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with a) the Welsh Government and b) Welsh policing and criminal justice partners on i) future partnership and ii) governance arrangements for policing.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Policing is a reserved matter for the UK Government, and we are taking forward a significant programme of reform across England and Wales. We are maintaining regular discussions with the Welsh Government on future partnership arrangements and governance models, including to ensure reforms are delivered collaboratively where they interact with devolved services. We are also engaging closely with policing and criminal justice partners in Wales, including through established fora such as the Policing Partnership Board for Wales, to inform partnership working and governance arrangements. We will continue to work constructively with the Welsh Government and partners as proposals are progressed.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the devolution of decision making for Government funded R&D grants.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are fully committed to regular and constructive dialogue with the Devolved Governments on our shared priorities, including the distribution of R&D funding across the UK. Key to this is making sure the benefits of science and innovation are felt across all corners of the country. It is positive to have seen an increase of £142m in UKRI investment across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
R&D funding is partially devolved: Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25:
Through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), we are also empowering local leaders in 17 regions across the UK to target R&D investment and unleash their full innovation potential. The Government is investing up to £150 million through the LIPF in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2026 and 2031. The Government is considering the future of LIPF in the nations.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she will make a statement in the House on how decisions over R&D funding allocated by the UK Government may be devolved in a) Scotland, b) Wales and c) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are fully committed to regular and constructive dialogue with the Devolved Governments on our shared priorities, including the distribution of R&D funding across the UK. Key to this is making sure the benefits of science and innovation are felt across all corners of the country. It is positive to have seen an increase of £142m in UKRI investment across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
R&D funding is partially devolved: Devolved Governments receive funding in their block grants which includes consequentials arising from UKRI allocations made through Research England. Devolved Governments can allocate block grant funding as they choose within devolved policy areas, which include higher education and economic development. This includes the ability to allocate funding to R&D according to their priorities. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in 2024/25:
Through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), we are also empowering local leaders in 17 regions across the UK to target R&D investment and unleash their full innovation potential. The Government is investing up to £150 million through the LIPF in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2026 and 2031. The Government is considering the future of LIPF in the nations.