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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a presumption of transparency in favour of routinely publishing farmed animal welfare inspection reports across all species, including terrestrial farmed animals.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government understands the importance of transparency in relation to the welfare of farmed animals. Multi Annual National Control Plan (MANCP) reports include national data on the number of farm inspections completed by APHA, the welfare scores from those inspections and any subsequent enforcement action are reported at a national level. From 2026 Local Authority inspections will also be included in this report. The government considers that this provides sufficient overview of animal welfare enforcement data.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of improving building standards to (a) improve indoor air quality and (b) reduce exposure to damp and mould for people with respiratory conditions, including cystic fibrosis.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Effective ventilation plays an important role in maintaining good indoor air quality. The Government sets standards for this mainly through Part F (Ventilation) of the Building Regulations, which applies primarily to new buildings. Approved Document F provides guidance on meeting minimum ventilation requirements, to provide fresh air for occupant health and reduce risks from pollutants, moisture, condensation and mould.
The Government has recently published updates to Approved Document F. These changes include improvements to commissioning, testing and installer competence, and revisions made in response to concerns about design flexibility, ensuring systems work as intended once homes are occupied. The changes will come into force in March 2027 for non-Higher Risk Building Work.
Indoor air quality in existing properties is addressed separately. Awaab’s Law requires social landlords to investigate and remedy damp and mould hazards within set timescales. Private landlords are already required to provide homes that are fit for human habitation, and local authorities must take enforcement action where the most dangerous hazards, including damp and mould, are identified.
From 2035, the Government is strengthening these protections by applying the new Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time.
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 estimate his Department has made of the level of Government funding provided for (a) animal-based research and (b) research using human-specific methods in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not made an estimate of the level of funding provided for (a) animal-based research and (b) research using human-specific methods in the latest year for which figures are available. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests in a wide range of research, including animal research and research that supports human-specific approaches such as organ-on-a-chip technologies, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These activities are generally categorised within broader research programmes, and funding is not separately identified on this basis across Government.
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, how much funding was provided for projects involving human-specific research methods each year between 2020-2025; and if he will publish a breakdown by funding body.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not made an estimate of how much funding was provided for projects involving human-specific research methods in each year between 2020 and 2025, and does not hold a breakdown by funding body. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests in a range of research that supports human-specific approaches, including organ-on-a-chip technologies, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These activities are generally categorised within broader research programmes, and funding for human-specific research methods is not separately identified across Government.
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 Code of Practice for the Care and Accommodation of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes, published in March 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the minimum separation age for non-human primates set out in that Code.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The minimum separation ages for non-human primates were not reassessed as part of the 2026 Code update. The Code clarified and consolidated the legal minimum standards in force since 2017; it did not change them. Licensed establishments must meet those standards and should also consider current evidence-based advice and leading practice.
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, when his Department plans to publish the delivery update on implementation of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 June 2026 to Question UIN 14084 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament