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 Department's transparency data entitled Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Non-technical summaries for project licences granted October – December 2025 that require a retrospective assessment, updated on 5 February 2026, what steps she is taking to ensure that projects are not duplicated in the report.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit operates a quality checking process to minimise errors in published non-technical summaries (NTS). However, they acknowledge there was a duplication error in the February 2026 NTS publication.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit have corrected a version of the document which will be published shortly. For clarity, all NTS’ were published, the error detected was a duplication.
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 assessment she has made of the potential impact of a reduction in the number of unannounced audits by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit of establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 between 2019 and 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of a structured programme of reform, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) is increasing the number of veterinary and medical inspectors from an average of 14.5 in 2023 to 22 in March 2026. This provides additional specialist resource to undertake regulatory assurance activities in the future. However, the number of audits undertaken should not be equated with impact, as the quality, depth and scope of audits are key determinants in the regulatory system.
ASRU deploys both announced and unannounced audits to assurance compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and both are important tenets of the regulatory framework. Unannounced audits may be employed where there are specific concerns or potentially higher risks at an establishment. Announced audits can enable inspectors to observe scheduled procedures, speak to relevant staff and ensure that all information required is made available to form a complete assessment of compliance.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether physiotherapists will remain eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years under her Department's proposed changes to migration rules.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
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 assessment has she made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the rules for indefinite leave to remain on the physiotherapy workforce.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps is he taking to accelerate the scheduling of Section 20 hearings for animals seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work closely at official level, alongside other Departments and operational partners, on matters relating to animal welfare and the functioning of the justice system.
The average waiting time for section 20 hearings in the last five years is set out in the table below. Listing is a judicial function administered by HMCTS on judicial direction. The Ministry of Justice recognises that delays in court proceedings can have wider operational and financial impacts on partner organisations, including local authorities and animal welfare providers, and continues to focus on reducing court backlogs through its court reform programme, which is why on 25 February 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Courts and Tribunals Bill, aiming to deliver faster, fairer justice for all. These reforms are designed to progress cases more quickly through the criminal courts.
Magistrates Court: Average wait time for Section 20 hearing under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
2021 | 83 Days |
2022 | 53 Days |
2023 | 89 Days |
2024 | 74 Days |
2025 | 82 Days |
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for a Section 20 hearing under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work closely at official level, alongside other Departments and operational partners, on matters relating to animal welfare and the functioning of the justice system.
The average waiting time for section 20 hearings in the last five years is set out in the table below. Listing is a judicial function administered by HMCTS on judicial direction. The Ministry of Justice recognises that delays in court proceedings can have wider operational and financial impacts on partner organisations, including local authorities and animal welfare providers, and continues to focus on reducing court backlogs through its court reform programme, which is why on 25 February 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Courts and Tribunals Bill, aiming to deliver faster, fairer justice for all. These reforms are designed to progress cases more quickly through the criminal courts.
Magistrates Court: Average wait time for Section 20 hearing under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
2021 | 83 Days |
2022 | 53 Days |
2023 | 89 Days |
2024 | 74 Days |
2025 | 82 Days |
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what conversations has she had with colleagues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the potential impact of court delays on the a) financial health and b) kennel capacity of i) local authorities and ii) dog homes in England and Wales due to requirements to seize animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work closely at official level, alongside other Departments and operational partners, on matters relating to animal welfare and the functioning of the justice system.
The average waiting time for section 20 hearings in the last five years is set out in the table below. Listing is a judicial function administered by HMCTS on judicial direction. The Ministry of Justice recognises that delays in court proceedings can have wider operational and financial impacts on partner organisations, including local authorities and animal welfare providers, and continues to focus on reducing court backlogs through its court reform programme, which is why on 25 February 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Courts and Tribunals Bill, aiming to deliver faster, fairer justice for all. These reforms are designed to progress cases more quickly through the criminal courts.
Magistrates Court: Average wait time for Section 20 hearing under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
2021 | 83 Days |
2022 | 53 Days |
2023 | 89 Days |
2024 | 74 Days |
2025 | 82 Days |
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 discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) reviewing and (b) strengthening penalties for cruelty against wildlife.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The commitment to review and look to strengthen penalties for cruelty against wildlife - so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for animal welfare offences against pets and livestock - was made in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025. The strategy notes the importance of working closely with stakeholders and Defra will engage with partners inside and outside of Government to discuss next steps on delivering the strategy.
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, how many dogs have been seized from their owners under Section 18(5) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last five years.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not collect data on the financial costs to police forces associated with waiting times for Section 20 hearings under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, nor does it hold records on the number of dogs seized under Section 18(5) of the Act, or the length of time such dogs are held in dog homes or council facilities. These matters are operational responsibilities of police forces and local authorities, and any relevant information would be held by those bodies.
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 assessment has she made of the impact of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 in potentially reducing the a) financial burden on and b) kennel capacity of i) Scottish Local Authorities and ii) dog homes caring for dogs seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 without court order.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In Defra’s recently published Animal Welfare Strategy, this Government committed to undertake a review to ensure the appropriate tools and frameworks are in place to deliver a proportionate and robust enforcement system. This would include powers to seize or rehome animals where necessary.