Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ruth Jones this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 47 · Home Office
With reference to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 86299 on Animal Experiments, when she plans to publish the Government’s response to the 2014 consultation on Section 24 of the Animals (Sci
The Home Office is reviewing Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, including the responses received to the 2014 consultation. The Government remains committed to clarifying the operation of Section 24, taking account of the consultat...
When she will introduce the Police Reform BIll.
As announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, the Bill will be introduced later this session.
What recent assessment she has made of the potential role of faith-based organisations in (a) supporting victims of domestic abuse and (b) contributing to the domestic abuse pathway.
We understand the importance of specialist and ‘by and for’, including faith-based, services in providing the tailored support that victims and survivors of VAWG need to survive and thrive.In 2025/26 the Home Office invested over £20m to support victims o...
Whether her Department provides training for faith-based organisations on (a) recognising potential signs of domestic violence and (b) supporting victims.
We understand the importance of specialist and ‘by and for’, including faith-based, services in providing the tailored support that victims and survivors of VAWG need to survive and thrive.In 2025/26 the Home Office invested over £20m to support victims o...
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.
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 m...
When the Independent review of police force structures will report their findings; and when she plans to publish that review.
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 ...
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 4425, what comparative assessment she has made of the potential merits of a) industry led welfare standards for decapods, supported by voluntary repor
The Home Office has committed to a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for the protections of decapods used in science. This will support welfare improvements now while further evidence is gathered to inform any fut...
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 nami
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 implica...
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
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 implica...
What steps is she taking to (a) reduce the numbers of decapod crustaceans used in scientific procedures and (b) strengthen expertise of these creatures within the Animals in Science Regulation Unit.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans as sentient beings. The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to their welfare, including where they are used in scientific research.The Home Office h...
What assessment she has made of the use of informal hierarchies of animal sentience by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit in discharging its duties under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 19
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) does not operate through informal hierarchies of sentience. Instead, it statutorily requires that, wherever possible, animals with the lowest capacity to experience pain, suffering, distress and lasting ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What assessment has she made of the potential merits of expanding the Police's right of disclosure to include incidents of animal abuse.
The Police National Computer holds all relevant information for prosecutions made for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Certain organisations, including non-police public bodies such as the Disclosure and Barring Service and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, have access to this information, where appropriate to fulfil their public function. This allows us to securely protect this important information from misuse, but also for it to be available for organisations with a justified need to access the information.The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme covers all criminal convictions, and police forces may release information under their police common law powers relating to animal cruelty offences if they think this behaviour would pose a risk to the individual seeking the disclosure. We have committed to exploring the potential to expand the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme through the government's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy (VAWG) to other forms of VAWG.
How many animals were used in LD50 tests to evidence compliance with UK-only regulations in each of the last five years.
The Home Office publishes detailed annual statistics on the use of animals in science, including procedures for acute and subacute toxicity testing which covers tests such as LD50 (Lethal Dose 50) and LC50 (Lethal Concentration 50). These figures represent the total number of procedures carried out in this category each year.The Home Office does not collect information on whether individual procedures were conducted specifically to meet UK only regulatory requirements, so the data is not available in the form requested.Based on the published annual statistics, the total number of procedures in the acute and sub‑acute toxicity category (which includes LD50 and LC50 tests) in each of the last five years is as follows:2024: 11,9922023: 11,5192022: 12,6512021: 11,758Statistics for 2025 have not yet been published. Official statistics on the use of animals in science are released annually and are available here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-statistics
How many licences were rejected for procedures using the rabbit pyrogen test since the publication of the Replacing Animals in Science strategy.
Since the publication of the Animals in Science Strategy on 11 November the Home Office has not received any applications for licences that seek authorisation for procedures using the rabbit pyrogen test.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a fee for project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 based on the estimated number of procedures and using the funds generated to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods.
This Government has recently announced £75 million of further investment in accelerating the development, validation and uptake of non-animal alternative methods.As set out in the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, published in November 2025, the Government will create a preclinical translational models hub and a UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM).This is in addition to the current funding of the NC3Rs.
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.
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.
Whether physiotherapists will remain eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years under her Department's proposed changes to migration rules.
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.