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, when she will bring forward legislation to ban the use of enriched cages for laying hens.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is carefully analysing the consultation responses, and the next steps will be announced when the analysis is completed.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the significance of sovereign semiconductor manufacturing capacity to (a) UK defence manufacturing and (b) UK national security and resilience.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out our approach to investing in and onshoring the necessary industrial capabilities for sovereign national security and to boost UK economic growth. It recognises semiconductors as a priority sub-sector critical to modern military platforms and UK defence manufacturing. The Ministry of Defence is therefore focused on ensuring secure, resilient access to these technologies to support national security.
For sensitive and classified applications, Defence requires an assured and trusted supply, including specialised compound semiconductors, where UK-based capability can be essential. An example of this Government’s commitment to action can be seen in its acquisition of Octric Semiconductors in September 2024.
The Department is also strengthening its expertise through a dedicated Category Management approach to semiconductors, improving demand signalling, market intelligence and risk management. This work is supported by close engagement with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade, the Semiconductor Advisory Panel, industry and international partners, alongside ongoing analytical work, development of a Defence semiconductor strategy, and targeted investment in skills and capability.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to increase expertise on domestic semiconductor production in his Department.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out our approach to investing in and onshoring the necessary industrial capabilities for sovereign national security and to boost UK economic growth. It recognises semiconductors as a priority sub-sector critical to modern military platforms and UK defence manufacturing. The Ministry of Defence is therefore focused on ensuring secure, resilient access to these technologies to support national security.
For sensitive and classified applications, Defence requires an assured and trusted supply, including specialised compound semiconductors, where UK-based capability can be essential. An example of this Government’s commitment to action can be seen in its acquisition of Octric Semiconductors in September 2024.
The Department is also strengthening its expertise through a dedicated Category Management approach to semiconductors, improving demand signalling, market intelligence and risk management. This work is supported by close engagement with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade, the Semiconductor Advisory Panel, industry and international partners, alongside ongoing analytical work, development of a Defence semiconductor strategy, and targeted investment in skills and capability.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to guidance entitled Research and testing using animals: licences and compliance published by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) in 2013, whether she plans to update included policies on the naming of products and substances in project licences for batch quality control and regulatory toxicology in light of the a) replacing animals in science strategy and b) updated guidance issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The published policies and guidance entitled 'Research and testing using animals: licences and compliance, published by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) in 2013 remain in place. ASRU keeps guidance under review. ASRU will consider any implications of the Replacing animals in science strategy and relevant guidance issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as part of that process.
The Government is committed to the effective delivery of the strategy and is undertaking regular governance and engagement activity across departments and with wider stakeholders to assure effective system-wide delivery.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to guidance entitled Research and testing using animals: licences and compliance published by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) in 2013, whether such policies on on the naming of a) products and b) substances in project licences for i) batch quality control and ii) regulatory toxicology remain in place.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The published policies and guidance entitled 'Research and testing using animals: licences and compliance, published by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) in 2013 remain in place. ASRU keeps guidance under review. ASRU will consider any implications of the Replacing animals in science strategy and relevant guidance issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as part of that process.
The Government is committed to the effective delivery of the strategy and is undertaking regular governance and engagement activity across departments and with wider stakeholders to assure effective system-wide delivery.
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, when she intends to consult on a draft ban on the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Helen Maguire, on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 613.
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 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 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.