Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department taking to support delivery of the Morlais tidal stream project in Anglesey.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government supports the Morlais tidal stream project primarily through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, our main mechanism for supporting low‑carbon electricity generation. Tidal stream projects deployed at Morlais have secured CfD contracts through recent allocation rounds, providing long‑term revenue certainty and supporting deployment from 2026 onwards. The Government has also maintained ringfenced budgets for tidal stream in successive CfD rounds, recognising the UK’s global leadership in this emerging technology.
Responsibility for the Morlais site infrastructure and its development sits with the Welsh Government, which has provided equity and regional funding.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is his Department taking to increase the amount of tidal stream capacity procured in Allocation Round 8.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will set out the design of Allocation Round 8, including parameters for all CfD eligible technologies, ahead of the round opening.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the budget for (a) tidal stream technologies and (b) other Pot 2 technologies in Allocation Round 8 above the £15 million provided in Allocation Round 7.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
For Allocation Round 8 of the Contracts for Difference scheme, the Government will consider a range of factors when setting budgets and parameters for tidal stream and other technologies, including the pipeline of eligible projects, progress towards decarbonisation targets, and value for money for consumers.
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, with reference to the Animal Law Foundation's report entitled A Pig’s Tail: How Europe is moving beyond routine tail docking, published in April 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the levels of pig tail docking.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As the Government made clear in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, we take the issue of pig tail docking very seriously. Working with industry and the veterinary profession to reduce the prevalence of tail docking is a priority. The Government will be carefully reviewing the Animal Law Foundation’s report as it considers the appropriate next steps.
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 policies of the state of freedom of religion or belief in India; and what discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on that topic.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We take the issues of freedom of religion and belief across the world very seriously. I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question 116730.
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, with reference to the withdrawal of third-party public liability insurance from the Dogs Trust Companion Club scheme, effective 1st July, whether her department is taking steps to devise and implement a workable alternative solution for owners of exempted dogs; and if her department will provide assurance that no owners of exempted dogs will be left unable to comply with existing legislation.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is working to ensure owners are supported to remain compliant with the law once the current insurance product ends. Dog owners must continue to meet all existing legal requirements but do not need to take any further action at this stage.
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a national animal abuse register to record the names of people who have been found guilty of crimes against animals.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government does not currently have plans to assess the benefits of a national animal abuse register.
Defra continue to work closely with enforcement partners to strengthen existing protections for animals.
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 plans to lay the Activity Regulations to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and which activities she plans to prioritise.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.
As set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the receipt of benefits designed to support disabled people with the additional costs of living with disability, such as a) PIP, b) DLA and c) AA, being within targeting criteria for energy cost support initiatives.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely. Contingency planning is taking place for every eventuality, so that we can keep costs down for everyone and provide support for those who need it most
In addition, DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘Kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to Government programmes.
The Kickstarter project will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration he has given to the additional energy needs of disabled people who do not receive means tested benefits when evaluating potential energy bill support for households as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely. Contingency planning is taking place for every eventuality, so that we can keep costs down for everyone and provide support for those who need it most
In addition, DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘Kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to Government programmes.
The Kickstarter project will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need.