Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of (a) the assassination of at least 11 religious leaders by illegal armed groups in Columbia over the past 18 months and (b) the continued refusal by the Columbian Government to restore access for religious officials to the government protection scheme; and whether her Department has made representations about these matters with the Government of Colombia.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues to take very seriously as part of our commitment to promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. Specifically, on each of the countries raised by the Hon Member, I refer her to the answers provided to Questions 5332 and 5388 on 8 June, Question 5283 on 4 June, and Question 66106 on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies towards Nicaragua of requirements for Catholic and Protestant religious leaders to report regularly to police authorities and obtain permission for all religious activities; and whether she plans to raise these restrictions through bilateral or multilateral channels.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues to take very seriously as part of our commitment to promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. Specifically, on each of the countries raised by the Hon Member, I refer her to the answers provided to Questions 5332 and 5388 on 8 June, Question 5283 on 4 June, and Question 66106 on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through (a) the United Nations, (b) the Organization of American States and (c) other multilateral institutions to help support members of religious minorities in indigenous communities in Mexico, including their access to basic services, and their forcibly displacement.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues to take very seriously as part of our commitment to promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. Specifically, on each of the countries raised by the Hon Member, I refer her to the answers provided to Questions 5332 and 5388 on 8 June, Question 5283 on 4 June, and Question 66106 on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Nicaragua on the detention of Protestant Pastor Efren Vilchez.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues to take very seriously as part of our commitment to promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. Specifically, on each of the countries raised by the Hon Member, I refer her to the answers provided to Questions 5332 and 5388 on 8 June, Question 5283 on 4 June, and Question 66106 on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has raised with the Government of Cuba the arbitrary detention of Jonathan Muir Burgos on 15 March 2026.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues to take very seriously as part of our commitment to promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. Specifically, on each of the countries raised by the Hon Member, I refer her to the answers provided to Questions 5332 and 5388 on 8 June, Question 5283 on 4 June, and Question 66106 on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department’s policies of recent convictions relating to the 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria; and what steps her Department is taking to support accountability and protection for communities affected by religion-related violence in Nigeria.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 27 November 2025 (HWCS1105), and the response provided on 5 June to Question 5325.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 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 reporting, and b) introducing new regulatory standards on the welfare of decapods used in science.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
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 future consideration of regulation.
There is merit in this approach as welfare standards can be introduced more quickly because they can build on existing good practice through voluntary standards and training and reporting, whereas regulatory standards under ASPA require further evidence, technical development and preparation before legally enforceable requirements could be introduced.
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 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 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.