Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking with Ofcom and relevant online platforms to (a) remove accounts repeatedly used to facilitate the illegal sale of falsified and unlicensed medicines and (b) prevent sellers from re-establishing accounts following removal.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood products for transfusion in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
The MHRA is acutely aware of the dangers associated with purchasing medicines from unregulated online sources and continues to take robust action against individuals and criminal operations that place the public at risk through unlawful online sales.
The MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) has statutory powers to investigate and disrupt the illegal supply of medicines and medical devices, including those sold via online marketplaces, social media, and independent websites. Each year, the CEU seizes millions of doses of unlicensed, falsified, or otherwise illegal medicines and works closely with national and international partners to identify organised criminal activity in this space. Over the past year, the CEU has:
conducted targeted online investigations into UK-based and overseas suppliers;
worked with law enforcement partners and industry to remove illegal listings and shut down unlawful supply routes;
taken action against distributors involved in criminal supply chains; and
collaborated with major online platforms to ensure rapid removal of unlawful medicinal product listings.
Despite these successes, it recognises that the dynamic nature of online criminality presents significant challenges. Many illegal suppliers operate outside the UK or use distribution networks specifically designed to evade detection. This is why the MHRA continues to invest in improved intelligence, enhanced digital capabilities, and strengthened international partnerships.
Alongside enforcement, the MHRA maintains public-facing guidance advising individuals on how to source medicines safely and legally, including through the Yellow Card scheme and FakeMeds campaigns. These initiatives aim to reduce demand for illegal medicines by highlighting the dangers of purchasing from unverified online sources and guiding the public toward legitimate suppliers. Further information on the Yellow Card scheme and the FakeMeds campaign is available at the following two links:
https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/
The MHRA continues to work closely with the law enforcement partners and industry to identify further opportunities to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement landscape. This includes improving intelligence sharing, enhancing digital monitoring, and exploring additional regulatory interventions where appropriate.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October to Question 36200 on chemicals regulation, for what reason HSE is proposing holding a public consultation in addition to the one held in summer 2025; and what recent progress HSE has made on delivering the Government’s commitment to introduce secondary legislation to amend GB CLP to introduce new EU hazard classifications by June 2027.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Chemicals Legislative Reform consultation held in 2025 sought initial views on how best to apply a consistent classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) regime across the United Kingdom (UK), which was in support of the Government’s commitment to safeguard the UK internal market. It did not seek views on any detailed policy proposals to deliver the commitment.
Following this, HSE undertook an industry survey in Spring 2026 to gather evidence on the potential costs and impacts to business on aligning with the European Union (EU) CLP measures. Analysis of the survey results is ongoing and a narrowly focused public consultation, subject to ministerial agreement, would provide an opportunity for HSE to gauge views on proposals, to refine the costs, and strengthen its understanding of the benefits in order to deliver secondary legislation in 2027.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Intellectual Property that the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit is operating below optimal capacity, in part due to high staff vacancy levels.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the important role of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in tackling serious and organised intellectual property crime. We work closely with policing and other partners to understand operational needs and ensure that our approach to IP enforcement remains effective, sustainable and delivers value for money. The findings of the APPG for IP are under consideration in the development of the next Counter Infringement Strategy.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions has the Four Nations Group on Child Poverty formally met in the past 12 months; and what was discussed at those meetings.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
In developing the UK-wide Child Poverty Strategy, we committed to respecting devolution settlements, complementing existing efforts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and understanding the distinct delivery landscapes across nations. We continue to work with devolved governments including through the Four Nations Group on Child Poverty. The Group has previously discussed progress made in addressing child poverty, monitoring and evaluation plans, and potential areas of collaboration.
Alongside the Four Nations Group, UK Government Ministers have also held bilateral meetings with Ministers from devolved governments to discuss progress with tackling child poverty. The group met once in March.
Our approach to accountability and transparency is set out in our baseline monitoring and evaluation report (Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty: Monitoring and Evaluation - Baseline Report - GOV.UK).
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions has the Interministerial Group on Child Poverty formally met in the past 12 months; and what was discussed at those meetings.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
In March, we established the Interministerial Group (IMG) on Child Poverty, co-chaired by Ministers from the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions. The IMG provides governance and accountability to ensure the sustained prioritisation of child poverty across government. Through the IMG, Ministers maintain strong cross-government oversight of delivery of the commitments in the Strategy, monitor the Strategy’s impact and the trajectory of child poverty and build momentum to sustain impact in tackling child poverty.
The IMG met in March and June. These meetings considered the detailed monitoring and evaluation plans for Strategy implementation alongside reflecting on the progress already made including the successful delivery of the two child limit removal, which will lift 450,000 children out of relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30.
Our approach to accountability and transparency is set out in our baseline monitoring and evaluation report (Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty: Monitoring and Evaluation - Baseline Report - GOV.UK).
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps the Intellectual Property Office is taking to consider the public harm associated with counterfeit medicines in developing its forthcoming Counter-Infringement Strategy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Intellectual Property Office recognises the public harm that can arise from IP crime and infringement, including counterfeit goods that often pose risks to health and safety.
In developing its future strategy, the IPO is working across government, law enforcement and industry to better understand these harms and how they can be minimised.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what social security-related data sharing agreements are in place between the Department for Work and Pensions and a) the Welsh Government and b) local authorities in Wales.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the construction of new railway stations at (a) Cardiff Parkway and (b) Newport West on (i) economic growth, (ii) employment, (iii) productivity and (iv) congestion.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to improving rail connectivity and supporting growth, jobs, and housing across South East Wales. The October budget confirmed £30 million to progress Cardiff Parkway, a development with the potential to support around 6,000 jobs. Alongside Newport West, the station will improve access to employment, strengthen connectivity, and provide attractive alternatives to car travel along the congested M4 corridor.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consequential funding will the Welsh Government receive as a result of the UK Government's decision to award a Household Energy Payment to households in England.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Barnett consequentials associated with the Household Energy Payment announced at Budget 2026 will be included in the next iteration of the Block Grant Transparency which will be published in due course.
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 plans her Department is making to deliver secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to implementing measures to end puppy smuggling. This Government will communicate a timeline for the delivery of the relevant secondary legislation in due course.