Animal Welfare
I am delighted to support the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill. I know the British public is united on animal welfare and has a great passion for pets.
As you may already know, the Bill passed its Third Reading vote in the House of Commons early in July and is now undergoing scrutiny in the House of Lords. This legislation is a crucial step in collectively tackling the pet smuggling trade.
As the number of pet owners has increased, so has the number of people travelling with their pets. Most of the 368,000 dogs, cats and ferrets that were moved in a non-commercial capacity in 2024 were moved by genuine pet owners. However, there has also been a rise in unscrupulous traders who abuse our pet travel rules and illegally smuggle puppies and kittens into the country. This can have a devastating effect on the health and welfare of the animals which suffer.
I strongly believe the measures in this legislation will close loopholes in the UK’s pet travel rules which smugglers exploit. It will reduce the number of pets that can travel in a single non-commercial movement and require
the movement of a pet to be explicitly linked to that of its owner. This fundamentally disrupts the tactics illegal traders employ to avoid checks and oversight.
The Bill also allows the Government to introduce measures to tackle low-welfare imports. These measures will raise the minimum age at which dogs and cats can be moved into Great Britain to six months, ban the import of heavily pregnant dogs and cats. It will also ban the import of dogs and cats that have been subject to mutilations, such as docked tails, cropped ears and declawing. I know Ministers are committed to introducing these restrictions as soon as is workable. I understand they will work with stakeholders to closely consider the practicalities and details and with enforcement bodies to ensure they have the necessary tools.
I assure you I remain committed to ending the smuggling of animals and to delivering the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation.
Snares
I have long supported ending the use of snares. Snares are indiscriminate traps that regularly cause unnecessary suffering and harm to animals. Not only do they hurt the animals they are set to catch, but there are reports of other animals and pets being caught in, injured by, or sometimes killed by snares.
During the previous Government’s time in office, my colleagues tried to amend the ill-fated Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill to introduce a ban on the use of snares in England, but the previous Government voted it down. This piece of legislation was then ultimately dropped.
I therefore support the UK Government’s pledge to ending the use of snares. I know Ministers in Westminster are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and it will be setting out next steps in due course.
In Wales, I am proud that the Welsh Government has led the way and is the first country in the UK to implement a total ban on snares and glue traps. This came into effect in October 2023 and means that many animals will now be spared from the most terrible suffering.
I welcome that the UK Government is following the lead of the Welsh Government on this issue. Let me assure you that I will continue to support efforts by both the UK Government and Welsh Government to ensure that Wales, and the rest of the UK, have high animal welfare standards.
Farmed Chicken Welfare
I understand that the subject of animal welfare for farmed animals is an emotive subject for many people.
Our farm animals are protected by robust animal health and welfare laws. These include the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for the animal’s welfare needs. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 set down detailed requirements on how farmed livestock, including meat chickens, should be kept. I am reassured by Ministers that any potential breaches of these laws are taken very seriously.
I assure you I am firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare. I support the UK Government in its efforts to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards for animals and the environment.
I know that Ministers are determined to build on and maintain our world-leading record on animal health and welfare. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that animals receive the care, respect and protection that they rightly deserve, in whatever type of farming system they are kept.
Pets (Microchips) Bill
I know that for many people, pets are part of the family and I completely understand why people feel so strongly about this.
As you may know, at the moment, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) provides guidance to vets on obtaining consent before pets receive euthanasia. The person presenting the pet must sign a consent form attesting to the fact they are the owner or are authorised by the owner.
I understand that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has worked closely with vets and the RCVS to explore alternatives to euthanasia before a healthy dog or cat is put down. I am pleased that following these talks, the RCVS have agreed to add to their guidance the principle of scanning microchips before administering euthanasia to a healthy dog or cat.
I believe committing violence towards a pet or an assistance animal, and using them to control or coerce a victim, should be considered as a risk factor for domestic abuse and treated seriously by the police. It is essential every force has the right specialist capacity to properly investigate these crimes, and I am glad the Government is working closely with the College of Policing to strengthen police training on domestic abuse.
I am also proud of other steps it has already taken to confront the issue of domestic abuse – including the roll-out of domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms as part of Raneem’s Law. I can assure you the Government is committed to tackling domestic abuse, as am I.
Thank you once again for writing to me about this saddening issue.
Grouse Shooting
I know people feel very strongly on both sides of the debate about grouse shooting.
I share your concerns about crimes against birds of prey. Birds of prey are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, and I believe it is vital that this law is respected by those involved in the grouse shooting industry.
I know the Government take wildlife crime extremely seriously. There are strong penalties in place for anyone found guilty, including unlimited fines and/or a six-month custodial sentence. I am pleased that the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs has provided further funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit to prevent and detect wildlife crime.
The rise of killed or missing Hen Harriers, and the lack of prosecution over this, is concerning. As you may know, the National Wildlife Crime Unit have launched a specific Hen Harrier taskforce to address this, which is using technology to disrupt and deter offenders. It has been great to see that early signs suggest this is having a positive impact.
I am also aware of concerns around the environmental impact of grouse shooting, which takes place in our upland areas. Our peatlands and moorlands in the UK are of huge national and international importance, provide numerous environmental benefits and are a rich habitat for so many species. Yet, 80% of England’s peatlands are degraded, and there are concerns that moorlands are being burnt too regularly.
That is why I support the Government’s public consultation on whether to extend the Heather and Grass et. Burning (England) Regulations, which, if necessary, would increase the area of moorland protected from negative impacts of burning. I am also pleased the Government are investing £85 million into our peatlands to restore these vital habitats.
At the same time, there are powerful economic and cultural arguments for grouse shooting. Shooting can be an important part of a local economy, providing employment opportunities. I recognise it also brings cultural value to rural communities. I believe the Government must work towards achieving a sustainable outcome for the environment and our wildlife, as well as protecting the interests of people and the rural economy.
I recognise it may come as a disappointment to you, but I understand the Government has no plans to ban grouse shooting at the moment. I can assure you that the issue is being kept under close review, and the Government is continuing to work to ensure a sustainable relationship between grouse shooting and conservation.
Dangerous Dogs
Ongoing attacks clearly show that we need to do more to protect the public from dangerous dogs.
I can assure you the Government is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to help prevent attacks. This involves encouraging responsible dog ownership, ensuring dog control issues are addressed before escalation, and making sure the law is fully applied.
I know Ministers have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. The taskforce is considering four themes: education, training for both dogs and their owners, enforcement, and improving data on dog attacks. I understand that findings and recommendations from the taskforce will be reported in due course. I will follow these developments.
I assure you I want to see huge strides made in improving animal welfare. I am aware of the arguments made against the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 by animal welfare groups, including that attacks have increased since its introduction.
I know there is much to do to get this right from a public safety perspective and an animal welfare perspective.
Factory Farming
I am always keen to hear from my constituents on matters of concern to them.
I know the Government recognises intensive farming is not without risk. Farms must comply with environmental regulations and animal welfare compliance schemes, and I am aware intensive farms are regularly investigated by the relevant authorities.
I understand the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to consider the impact of any farming developments, including factory farms. These departments do this work with the aim of improving outcomes for nature at the same time as enabling farmers and rural businesses to build the infrastructure they need. Biodiversity is a key consideration in these decisions.
More broadly, I believe that it is only through restoring nature that we can ensure food security. That is why I am so glad the Government has committed to the biggest investment in nature-friendly farming in this country’s history.
I was proud to be elected on a manifesto to introduce the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation. I know the Government are firmly committed to not only maintaining animal welfare standards, but improving them, and that further details of how they will achieve this will be outlined in due course.
It may also be of interest to you that the Government has invested £1 billion into a new National Biosecurity centre. Farmers and food producers will now be better protected from diseases, our food security strengthened, and public health better safeguarded against future pandemics.
Cages for Game Birds
I appreciate your concerns about the treatment of gamebirds such as pheasants and red-legged partridges that are bred and reared specifically for shooting. I know that as a nation of animal lovers, many people have strong feelings on the use of cages for tens of millions of these birds.
I am proud of the high animal welfare standards that underpin high-quality British produce, and I support the Government’s commitment to continue to deliver higher standards of farmed animal welfare.
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes provides guidance on how to meet the welfare needs of gamebirds under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It sets out that barren cages for breeding pheasants and partridges should not be used, and that any system should be appropriately enriched.
I know that the use of cages and crates is an issue the Government is now considering very carefully, and Ministers are very aware of the strong public feeling on keeping animals in cages. I will continue to monitor this issue.
More widely, I was elected on a pledge to support introducing the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. I know the Government is engaging with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of its approach in this area and I look forward to it setting out more details in future.
Welfare of Animals Being Transported
I know people feel very strongly about the welfare of farmed animals.
I believe animals should receive the care, respect, and protection that they rightly deserve, in whatever farming system they are kept. I know the Government is determined to build on and maintain the UK’s world-leading record on animal health and welfare.
It is important to be aware that these are complex issues that need careful consideration. For example, during the consultation, both animal welfare advocacy groups and the poultry industry noted that the British poultry industry was not well-placed to transition to other methods of catching chickens. I am aware that barriers include health and safety concerns and labour shortages.
If we move too quickly and make UK production less competitive, there is a risk that we will import food from countries with lower welfare standards. Replacing a UK egg with an imported caged egg would be bad for the consumer, bad for producers and bad for animal welfare.
I understand that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have commissioned a research project to study the impact of various catching methods, including upright catching.This research will look at whether transitioning to upright catching delivers improvements in welfare outcomes and whether it is practically feasible.
I recognise it may come as a disappointment to you, but I understand the prayer motion was not selected and the legislation remains in place. Please rest assured I will continue to support the Government in its work to deliver high standards of farm animal welfare while providing stability for the farming sector.