Information between 20th April 2026 - 30th May 2026
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20 Apr 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 291 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 293 Noes - 159 |
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20 Apr 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 289 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 158 |
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20 Apr 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 291 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 294 Noes - 156 |
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20 Apr 2026 - Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 291 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 294 Noes - 61 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 280 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 284 Noes - 149 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 285 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 144 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 284 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 288 Noes - 147 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 283 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 150 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 290 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 293 Noes - 155 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 295 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 298 Noes - 152 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 293 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 147 |
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21 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 282 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 149 |
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27 Apr 2026 - Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over) - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 269 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 176 |
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27 Apr 2026 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 269 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 164 |
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27 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 268 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 271 Noes - 171 |
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27 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 264 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 269 Noes - 170 |
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27 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 265 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 170 |
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27 Apr 2026 - English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 268 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 273 Noes - 167 |
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27 Apr 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 262 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 272 Noes - 64 |
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28 Apr 2026 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 297 Labour Aye votes vs 6 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 304 Noes - 28 |
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28 Apr 2026 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 322 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 158 |
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28 Apr 2026 - Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 333 Labour No votes vs 15 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 335 |
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28 Apr 2026 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 304 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 308 Noes - 81 |
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20 May 2026 - Defence Readiness - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 300 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes Tally: Ayes - 307 Noes - 171 |
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20 May 2026 - Defence Readiness - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 302 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 104 Noes - 316 |
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20 May 2026 - Defence Readiness - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 301 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 78 Noes - 408 |
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20 May 2026 - Defence Readiness - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 304 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 104 Noes - 317 |
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19 May 2026 - Energy Security - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 309 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 108 Noes - 323 |
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21 May 2026 - Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill - View Vote Context Ruth Jones voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House One of 231 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes Tally: Ayes - 68 Noes - 242 |
| Speeches |
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Ruth Jones speeches from: Debate on the Address
Ruth Jones contributed 3 speeches (1,518 words) Wednesday 13th May 2026 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office |
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Ruth Jones speeches from: Animal Testing
Ruth Jones contributed 2 speeches (1,380 words) Monday 27th April 2026 - Westminster Hall Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport |
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Ruth Jones speeches from: Oral Answers to Questions
Ruth Jones contributed 1 speech (74 words) Wednesday 22nd April 2026 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office |
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Ruth Jones speeches from: Draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026
Ruth Jones contributed 2 speeches (635 words) Tuesday 21st April 2026 - General Committees Department for Work and Pensions |
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Toys and Games: Chemicals
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Business 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business 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. |
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Toys and Games: Chemicals
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Business 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business 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. |
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Tidal Power: Finance
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the budget for (a) tidal stream technologies and (b) other Pot 2 technologies in Allocation Round 8 above the £15 million provided in Allocation Round 7. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) For Allocation Round 8 of the Contracts for Difference scheme, the Government will consider a range of factors when setting budgets and parameters for tidal stream and other technologies, including the pipeline of eligible projects, progress towards decarbonisation targets, and value for money for consumers. |
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Tidal Power: Ynys Môn
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department taking to support delivery of the Morlais tidal stream project in Anglesey. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The UK Government supports the Morlais tidal stream project primarily through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, our main mechanism for supporting low‑carbon electricity generation. Tidal stream projects deployed at Morlais have secured CfD contracts through recent allocation rounds, providing long‑term revenue certainty and supporting deployment from 2026 onwards. The Government has also maintained ringfenced budgets for tidal stream in successive CfD rounds, recognising the UK’s global leadership in this emerging technology.
Responsibility for the Morlais site infrastructure and its development sits with the Welsh Government, which has provided equity and regional funding. |
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Tidal Power: Finance
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is his Department taking to increase the amount of tidal stream capacity procured in Allocation Round 8. Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The Government will set out the design of Allocation Round 8, including parameters for all CfD eligible technologies, ahead of the round opening. |
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Veterinary Services: Animal Welfare
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Law Foundation's report entitled A Pig’s Tail: How Europe is moving beyond routine tail docking, published in April 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the levels of pig tail docking. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) As the Government made clear in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, we take the issue of pig tail docking very seriously. Working with industry and the veterinary profession to reduce the prevalence of tail docking is a priority. The Government will be carefully reviewing the Animal Law Foundation’s report as it considers the appropriate next steps. |
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Toys and Games: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Business 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 - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business 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). |
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Toys and Games: Safety
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 20th April 2026 Question to the Department for Business and Trade: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to consult on the potential merits of aligning the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 with EU Regulation 2025/2509 on the safety of toys. Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) The Government continues to closely monitor regulatory activity in the EU and assesses EU regulations on a case-by-case basis. It is right that the Government proceeds with policy changes in GB with due consultation and scrutiny. This is balanced with the Government’s commitment to protecting the UK internal market and supporting UK exports to the EU by breaking down unnecessary barriers to trade.
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. |
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Veterinary Services: Animal Welfare
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 21st April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government's Animal Welfare Strategy's commitment to work with the veterinary profession to reduce tail docking will involve specific guidance for vets to ensure they are not authorising illegal mutilations. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) The Department has recently engaged with the Pig Veterinary Society and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons regarding reducing the incidence of pig tail docking, and we are now carefully considering the appropriate next steps, including the possibility of developing further guidance for veterinarians. |
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Fuels: Prices
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Question to the Department for Transport: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of increases in fuel prices on the road haulage sector; and what steps is she taking to mitigate these. Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department will continue to work with industry to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks. |
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Parents: Advisory Services
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Question to the Department for Education: 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. Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities) 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 parents, carers and stakeholders, which also published on 27 March. We have also launched our ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign, providing parents with practical advice on how to talk to their children about harmful online content. The consultation on children’s digital wellbeing launched on 2 March looks at further measures to keep children safe online. It will run until 26 May, with the government reporting back in the summer. Later this year, we will publish guidance on screen time for parents of children aged 5 to 16, which will be informed by the consultation and a separate a call for evidence. We are monitoring the policies of other countries, including Australia, and are working with counterparts to share learnings and best practice on screen time. Ministers from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will also be visiting Australia to understand their approach. |
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Tennis: Facilities
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 27th April 2026 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what consideration has she given to providing multi-year funding to support investment in covered tennis courts, and what assessment has she made of the potential impacts of such funding on increasing the availability of such facilities. Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) The Government will invest £15 million into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways. We are working closely with the sport sector, including the Lawn Tennis Association, to learn from these pathways to develop plans for future grassroots sport funding.
We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as multi-sport hubs which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.
We recognise the need for funding to target a range of sports across the country based on what types of facilities each community needs, ensuring that our investment in community grassroots sports facilities reaches as many people as possible.
We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding into grassroots sport across England, including providing £10.2 million in funding for the Lawn Tennis Association between 2022-27.
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Tennis: Facilities
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 27th April 2026 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of levels of provision of (a) covered and (b) indoor sports tennis courts in Britain. Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) The Government will invest £15 million into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways. We are working closely with the sport sector, including the Lawn Tennis Association, to learn from these pathways to develop plans for future grassroots sport funding.
We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as multi-sport hubs which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.
We recognise the need for funding to target a range of sports across the country based on what types of facilities each community needs, ensuring that our investment in community grassroots sports facilities reaches as many people as possible.
We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding into grassroots sport across England, including providing £10.2 million in funding for the Lawn Tennis Association between 2022-27.
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Sports: Facilities
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 27th April 2026 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of access to (a) accessible, (b) covered and (c) indoor sports facilities to levels of participation by disabled people in sport. Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) The Government recognises that high-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Accessible, covered and indoor sports facilities are essential to increasing participation by disabled people.
In June last year, we committed £400 million to transform sports and leisure facilities over the next four years. We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated.
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Primary Education: Physical Education and Sports
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 27th April 2026 Question to the Department for Education: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve training for primary school teachers on how to deliver high quality PE and school sport. Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education) Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so every child can access high‑quality PE and school sport. As announced by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, the government will establish a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to ensure all children and young people have access to high-quality PE and extracurricular sport. We expect the partnerships to improve school-to-school collaboration, increase opportunities for high-quality PE, encourage children to move more, make best use of facilities and provide teacher CPD and training. In addition, we have provided a grant of up to £300,000 a year to a consortium led by the Youth Sport Trust to deliver Inclusion 2028, providing advice, guidance and training to upskill teachers and school workforce to deliver high-quality, inclusive PE. Further details on the PE and School Sports Partnerships will be confirmed in due course. |
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Tennis: Physical Education
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Monday 27th April 2026 Question to the Department for Education: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the benefits of tennis-focused teaching as part of PE and sport provision; and what steps is she taking to support tennis education in schools. Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education) Schools play a vital role in giving many pupils their first experience of playing sport, including tennis, in a structured and inclusive environment. This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that every child can access high-quality physical education and school sport. That is why, in June 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a new approach to PE and school sport, focused on building strong partnerships between schools, local clubs and national governing bodies of sport, such as the Lawn Tennis Association, to support greater participation and physical activity. National governing bodies provide valuable resources, workforce development and teacher support to help schools deliver high-quality sporting opportunities, both within the PE curriculum and through enrichment activity. The department is preparing to procure a national partner to lead the new PE and School Sport Partnerships, which will provide an opportunity to regularly assess the adequacy of support available to schools across PE and school sport, including the provision for tennis. |
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Sports: Facilities
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Thursday 23rd April 2026 Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of community covered (a) tennis, (b) padel and (c) multisport hubs. Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) The Government will invest £15 million into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways. We are working closely with the sport sector, including the Lawn Tennis Association, to learn from these pathways to develop plans for future grassroots sport funding. We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as multi-sport hubs which provide communities with access to the facilities they need. We recognise the need for funding to target a range of sports across the country based on what types of facilities each community needs, ensuring that our investment in community grassroots sports facilities reaches as many people as possible. We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding into grassroots sport across England, including providing £10.2 million in funding for the Lawn Tennis Association between 2022-27. |
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Cats: Animal Breeding
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Thursday 23rd April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has plans to help stop the breeding of cats with extreme physical traits associated with adverse health and welfare outcomes. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Spen Valley to PQ UIN 121026. |
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Dangerous Dogs: Insurance
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Thursday 23rd April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish guidance on how owners of exempted dogs will be able to remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Defra has published guidance on our gov.uk page and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. We will share further guidance which will be published on gov.uk in early June.
Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. |
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Access to Work Programme: Visual Impairment
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Friday 24th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Access to Work staff receive specialist advice on visual impairment when assessing applications and renewals for blind and partially sighted customers. Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) Access to Work staff are trained to assess applications from all disability groups and individual impairments, taking account of each customer’s needs and circumstances. Staff are able to access specific support relating to individual impairments where necessary. Where specialist advice is required to inform the outcome, Access to Work staff may arrange a workplace assessment through one of its contracted providers to help identify appropriate adjustments and support to address workplace barriers. |
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Animal Experiments: Primates
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 29th April 2026 Question to the Home Office: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of a) pain, b) suffering, c) distress and d) lasting harm caused to non-human primates recognised by service licences under Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office) All project licence applications, including service licences which use specially protected species such as dogs and non-human primates, are subject to a rigorous harm-benefit analysis (HBA), required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The HBA ensures that a project is only granted where a Home Office Inspector is satisfied that the likely harms to animals, including pain, suffering, distress and any lasting harm, are justified by the expected benefits for humans, animals or the environment. Under ASPA, projects proposing the use of specially protected species may only be authorised where no animal of lower sentience can be used to achieve the scientific objectives. In all cases, the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) must be fully applied. This means that animal use is permitted only where no validated alternative exists, the minimum number of animals is used, and the most refined methods are used to minimise harm. The Home Office publishes annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain, which break down procedures by species, type of procedure, and actual severity experienced by animals. They are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals. Information on the severity of procedures involving NHPs and dogs is set out in Table 3.1, with severity categorised under ASPA as non-recovery, mild, moderate or severe. Additionally, the Home Office expects to respond to recommendations from the Animals in Science Committee on the use of NHPs in service licences, which is aimed at further strengthening protections for NHPs used in science for service licences. |
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Animal Experiments: Dogs
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 29th April 2026 Question to the Home Office: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the level of a) pain, b) suffering, c) distress and d) lasting harm caused to dogs covered by service licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office) All project licence applications, including service licences which use specially protected species such as dogs and non-human primates, are subject to a rigorous harm-benefit analysis (HBA), required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The HBA ensures that a project is only granted where a Home Office Inspector is satisfied that the likely harms to animals, including pain, suffering, distress and any lasting harm, are justified by the expected benefits for humans, animals or the environment. Under ASPA, projects proposing the use of specially protected species may only be authorised where no animal of lower sentience can be used to achieve the scientific objectives. In all cases, the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) must be fully applied. This means that animal use is permitted only where no validated alternative exists, the minimum number of animals is used, and the most refined methods are used to minimise harm. The Home Office publishes annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain, which break down procedures by species, type of procedure, and actual severity experienced by animals. They are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals. Information on the severity of procedures involving NHPs and dogs is set out in Table 3.1, with severity categorised under ASPA as non-recovery, mild, moderate or severe. Additionally, the Home Office expects to respond to recommendations from the Animals in Science Committee on the use of NHPs in service licences, which is aimed at further strengthening protections for NHPs used in science for service licences. |
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Animal Experiments
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 29th April 2026 Question to the Home Office: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the robustness of the harm-benefit analysis of service licences, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, using a) non-human primates b) pregnant rabbits c) rats d) dogs e) mini-pigs. Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office) All project licence applications, including service licences, are subject to a rigorous harm-benefit analysis (HBA), required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The HBA is carried out by a trained Home Office Inspector who is a member of the veterinary or medical profession, to ensure that any harm to animals is justified by the likely benefits for humans, animals or the environment. Under ASPA, projects proposing the use of specially protected species, including non‑human primates and dogs, may only be authorised where no animal of lower sentience can be used to achieve the scientific objectives. In all cases, the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) must be fully applied. This means that animal use is permitted only where no validated alternative exists, the minimum number of animals is used, and the most refined methods are used to minimise harm. |
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Pets
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 28th April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a) companion animal ownership trends and b) recent legislative changes on local authority costs, including i) kennelling and ii) enforcement services. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) The Department engages regularly with local authority representative groups to understand pressures on their animal welfare functions, including kennelling and enforcement. |
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Employment: Carers and Pets
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 28th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) informal caregiving responsibilities and (b) companion animal care on labour market participation. Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869. |
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Employment: Pets
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 28th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to undertake research into the potential impact of companion animal ownership on a) labour market participation, b) productivity and c) flexible working. Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869. |
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Pets
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 28th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken any joint work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to assess the a) societal and b) economic impact of companion animal ownership. Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869. |
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Surveys: Pets
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Tuesday 28th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to include variables relating to companion animal ownership in a) future labour market and b) household surveys. Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869. |
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Access to Work Programme: Visual Impairment
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Wednesday 29th April 2026 Question to the Department for Work and Pensions: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards at renewal on blind and partially sighted customers. Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation. |
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Hunting: Hares
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn) Thursday 21st May 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to introduce legislation to create a closed hunting season for hares. Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) This Government committed to consider how to bring forward and introduce a close season for hares in England in its Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025. In short, a close season should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, which runs from February to October, meaning that fewer leverets (infant hares) are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation. A close season is also consistent with Natural England's advice on wildlife management that controlling species in their peak breeding season should be avoided unless genuinely essential and unavoidable.
A suitable primary legislative vehicle is required to deliver this change, and this Government is actively looking for suitable opportunities to take this measure forward. |
| Early Day Motions Signed |
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Thursday 21st May Ruth Jones signed this EDM on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Arthritis Awareness Month 2026 23 signatures (Most recent: 9 Jun 2026)Tabled by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme) That this House celebrates May as Arthritis Awareness Month; acknowledges the significant impact that arthritis has on over 10 million people across the UK, including more than 10,000 children and young people; recognises that arthritis causes pain, fatigue, disability, mental and financial strain and can affect people of any age, … |
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Note: Cited speaker in live transcript data may not always be accurate. Check video link to confirm. |
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22 Apr 2026, 11:41 a.m. - House of Commons "continue to act in the national interest. >> Ruth Jones chair of the Select Committee. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The " Anna McMorrin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Cardiff North, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
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23 Apr 2026, 10:21 a.m. - House of Commons " We now come to Tottenham Steve Race. >> Number one please. >> Ruth Jones. >> Mr. speaker, can I begin by thanking by congratulating my hon. " Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) (Bristol North West, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
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13 May 2026, 7:07 p.m. - House of Commons "that's gone bust. >> Ruth Jones thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker and it's a pleasure. " Dr Ben Spencer MP (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative) - View Video - View Transcript |
| Parliamentary Debates |
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Debate on the Address
203 speeches (60,361 words) Wednesday 13th May 2026 - Commons Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones) that the Great British Railways Bill will transform the - Link to Speech |
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Animal Testing
67 speeches (21,177 words) Monday 27th April 2026 - Westminster Hall Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Mentions: 1: Peter Fortune (Con - Bromley and Biggin Hill) Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones) raised important questions about licensing and enforcement - Link to Speech 2: Ian Murray (Lab - Edinburgh South) Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones), we agree with the principle of Herbie’s law - Link to Speech |
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Draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026
15 speeches (4,089 words) Tuesday 21st April 2026 - General Committees Department for Work and Pensions Mentions: 1: Stephen Timms (Lab - East Ham) Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones) has had the opportunity to contribute to the - Link to Speech |
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Foie Gras: Imports
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead) Friday 24th April 2026 Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the she is taking to fulfil to help ban the importation of foie gras; and whether he has set a timeline for doing so. Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) I refer the Hon. Member to the reply given to Ruth Jones on 17 March 2026 to PQ UIN 119441. |
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Thursday 21st May 2026
Ministry of Justice Source Page: Legal Aid Agency spending over £25,000: 2025 Document: View online (webpage) Found: |
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May. 11 2026
Environment Agency Source Page: Riverine natural capital condition and ecosystem service mapping Document: (PDF) Statistics Found: Agency Alice Crouch, Chris Cooper, Rachel Goodwin, Sarah Rustage, Emma Warner, Jed Nicholson and Ruth Jones |
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May. 11 2026
Environment Agency Source Page: Riverine natural capital condition and ecosystem service mapping Document: (PDF) Statistics Found: Agency Alice Crouch, Chris Cooper, Rachel Goodwin, Sarah Rustage, Emma Warner, Jed Nicholson and Ruth Jones |
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May. 11 2026
Environment Agency Source Page: Riverine natural capital condition and ecosystem service mapping Document: (PDF) Statistics Found: Agency: Alice Crouch, Chris Cooper, Rachel Goodwin, Sarah Rustage, Emma Warner, Jed Nicholson and Ruth Jones |
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May. 11 2026
Environment Agency Source Page: Riverine natural capital condition and ecosystem service mapping Document: (PDF) Statistics Found: Agency Alice Crouch, Chris Cooper, Rachel Goodwin, Sarah Rustage, Emma Warner, Jed Nicholson and Ruth Jones |
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Wednesday 13th May 2026 4 p.m. Welsh Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Wednesday 3rd June 2026 2 p.m. Welsh Affairs Committee - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 23rd June 2026 5:30 p.m. Liaison Committee (Commons) - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 16th June 2026 2 p.m. Liaison Sub-Committee on National Policy Statements - Private Meeting View calendar - Add to calendar |
| Select Committee Inquiry |
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1 Jun 2026
The future of Policing in Wales Welsh Affairs Committee (Select) Submit Evidence (by 15 Jun 2026) Policing in Wales is reserved to the UK Government, with the Home Office bearing responsibility for publishing the most pressing national crime threats and how police forces ought to respond to them (the Strategic Policing Requirement), presenting the Annual Police Grant Report to Parliament for approval, and holding Police and Crime Commissioners accountable. As elected representatives, Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for police governance, police oversight, and the commissioning of criminal justice services for their force area. A UK Government White Paper published in January outlined plans to abolish PCCs, the elected officials responsible for overseeing the budget and overall strategy of individual police forces in England and Wales. In England, their responsibilities will be taken on by elected regional mayors or council leaders, however it is not yet clear who will take on these functions in Wales. It also set out plans to merge a number of England and Wales’ 43 territorial police forces, although there is no clarity yet on what this could mean for Wales. |
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3 Jun 2026
Metal mine pollution in Wales Welsh Affairs Committee (Select) Submit Evidence (by 19 Jun 2026) Once a major industry in Wales, mines extracting metals like zinc, lead and gold are now largely abandoned. But metals from these mines can discharge into local rivers, streams and lakes, damaging local plant and animal biodiversity and possibly impacting human health. Abandoned metal mines cause extensive pollution in Wales. Approximately 1,300 sites impact on water quality and ecology in over 700km of watercourses. The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), since 2020, are addressing these impacts through the Metal (Non-Coal) Mines Programme, funded by the Welsh Government. As part of the Committee’s inquiry into ‘The environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past’ the Committee will hold a one-off evidence session on metal mines. |