Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using the UK - Faroe Islands free trade agreement to encourage his Faroese counterparts to ban dolphin hunting.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement provides an important framework for the UK Government to engage with the Faroese Government. UK officials have and will continue to raise the UK's opposition to cetacean hunting at meetings of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement, which provides a valuable forum for discussions on issues of concern. The Faroese Government is in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and opposition in the UK to cetacean hunting.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has plans to introduce a standing agenda item on dolphin hunting at future meetings of the Joint Committee established under the UK - Faeroe Island Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement provides an important framework for the UK Government to engage with the Faroese Government. UK officials have and will continue to raise the UK's opposition to cetacean hunting at meetings of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement, which provides a valuable forum for discussions on issues of concern, and for which the agenda is mutually agreed in advance. The Faroese Government is in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and opposition in the UK to cetacean hunting.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the level of Government funding provided for (a) animal-based research and (b) research using human-specific methods in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not made an estimate of the level of funding provided for (a) animal-based research and (b) research using human-specific methods in the latest year for which figures are available. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests in a wide range of research, including animal research and research that supports human-specific approaches such as organ-on-a-chip technologies, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These activities are generally categorised within broader research programmes, and funding is not separately identified on this basis across Government.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding was provided for projects involving human-specific research methods each year between 2020-2025; and if he will publish a breakdown by funding body.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not made an estimate of how much funding was provided for projects involving human-specific research methods in each year between 2020 and 2025, and does not hold a breakdown by funding body. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests in a range of research that supports human-specific approaches, including organ-on-a-chip technologies, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These activities are generally categorised within broader research programmes, and funding for human-specific research methods is not separately identified across Government.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, when his Department plans to publish the delivery update on implementation of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 June 2026 to Question UIN 14084 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of greater partnerships between the NHS and medical researchers on developing non-animal methods for scientific testing.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the important role that collaboration between the NHS, researchers and industry can play in accelerating the development of life sciences innovations. Through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, we are supporting partnerships that bring together expertise, data and human biological samples to develop more human-relevant approaches to research and testing. For example, the new Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub will support the development of models using cells donated by NHS patients, helping researchers better understand how people may respond to new treatments and supporting innovation in medicines development.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the wider availability of organoid testing as a replacement to methods involving animals.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is supporting the wider availability of organoid testing through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy. As announced on 12 August 2026, the new £20 million Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub will lead work to build and share models of human tissue, including organoids, using cells donated by NHS patients. The Hub will accelerate the development of these human-relevant approaches and make them available to researchers in universities and industry. Through UKCVAM and other strategy commitments, the Government is also supporting the validation and uptake of alternative methods where scientifically appropriate.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential harms posed to children by the presence of bisphenols in children’s toys.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Legalisation is clear that all toys must be safe before being placed on our market. The government is aware of the growing concerns regarding endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This is a complex scientific issue, and we will be seeking views in our upcoming call for evidence on toys.
Regarding bisphenols, Bisphenol-A (BPA) is recognized as a UK Category 1B reproductive toxicant under UK REACH) and is banned in toys. Government regularly reviews the safety of substances used in consumer products and will take further action if needed to ensure only safe products are sold on our market.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential harms posed to children by endocrine disrupting chemicals in toys.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Legalisation is clear that all toys must be safe before being placed on our market. The government is aware of the growing concerns regarding endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This is a complex scientific issue, and we will be seeking views in our upcoming call for evidence on toys.
Regarding bisphenols, Bisphenol-A (BPA) is recognized as a UK Category 1B reproductive toxicant under UK REACH) and is banned in toys. Government regularly reviews the safety of substances used in consumer products and will take further action if needed to ensure only safe products are sold on our market.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential harms posed to children by the presence of (a) perfluoroalkyl and (b) polyfluoroalkyl substances in children’s toys.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
There is growing concern that widespread use of PFAS may generate risks to human health. The PFAS Plan, published on 3 February 2026, sets out the Government’s approach to minimising the harmful effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including in consumer goods, while moving to safer alternatives.
The Government plans to launch a Call for Evidence shortly, which will seek views on whether to implement similar requirements in GB to those of the new EU Toy Safety Regulation. This will include possible changes to regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).