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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of regulating the role of maternity nurses within the private childcare sector; and what assessment he has made of the potential risks of such roles continuing to not be subject to professional regulation.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of regulating the role of maternity nurse. The Government intends to protect the professional title “nurse” through planned reforms to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s governing legislation. This will ensure that only those who hold registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a nurse, or otherwise meet a specific exemption, can legally call themselves a nurse. A call for evidence, seeking views on how the title “nurse” should be protected, is expected to be published shortly.
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 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 (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; what assessment she has made of the reasons for the delay in publishing that response; and whether she will set out a timetable for bringing forward proposals to clarify that provision.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
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 consultation responses and subsequent legal and policy developments.
This is a complex area which requires careful consideration to ensure the right balance between transparency and the protection of sensitive information, including personal safety and intellectual property. The Government will set out its position 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, whether further supported welfare improvements for laying hens will be incorporated into the UK Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to improve welfare in laying hens. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its fourth and final round on 12 May this year, has offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology to support higher welfare production. Earlier this year, we also announced funding to deliver on-farm Poultry Biosecurity Reviews, which launched on 2 June 2026, to build resilience against Avian Influenza and other threats. We continue to work with industry on how the Pathway can support high standards of animal welfare including simplifying and rationalising any grant funding from 2027 onwards.
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 support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to support the transition away from enriched cages. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, which closed to final applications on 28 April 2026, provides funding contributions towards infrastructure projects for commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those moving from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. Additionally, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its fourth and final round on 12 May this year, offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology to support higher welfare production. We continue to work with industry and wider stakeholders on how the Pathway can encourage cage free systems of farming.