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1128524

registered interest
date	23/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that supermarkets which have committed to stop selling eggs from hens kept in enriched cages by 2025 meet that target.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	257735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>I am aware that all major supermarkets have committed to stop selling eggs from hens kept in enriched cages by 2025. This is a voluntary initiative and as a result it is not necessary for the Government to take steps to help ensure they meet that target. The Government shares the public’s high regard for animal welfare and the welfare of our farmed livestock in all systems is protected by comprehensive and robust legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Consumers can make an informed choice as, under Commission Regulation (EC) 589/2008 laying down detailed rules as regards marketing standards for eggs, it is a requirement to include an indication of the farming method on the packs and the eggs themselves.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257736 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:16:19 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1128525

registered interest
date	23/05/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage supermarkets to stop selling eggs from hens kept in enriched cages before 2025.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	257736
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>I am aware that all major supermarkets have committed to stop selling eggs from hens kept in enriched cages by 2025. This is a voluntary initiative and as a result it is not necessary for the Government to take steps to help ensure they meet that target. The Government shares the public’s high regard for animal welfare and the welfare of our farmed livestock in all systems is protected by comprehensive and robust legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Consumers can make an informed choice as, under Commission Regulation (EC) 589/2008 laying down detailed rules as regards marketing standards for eggs, it is a requirement to include an indication of the farming method on the packs and the eggs themselves.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 257735 question first answered 10/06/2019 14:16:19 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1092641

registered interest
date	21/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) maintain and (b) increase animal welfare standards in battery hen farms.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	235260
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>The use of conventional (“battery”) cages for laying hens has been banned in the UK since 2012. Laying hens are kept in either enriched colonies, free range, barn or organic systems. Enriched colonies provide more space for the birds to move around and are legally required to provide nest boxes, litter, perches, and claw shortening devices which allow the birds to carry out a greater range of natural behaviours.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets provides improved and up-to-date guidance for owners and keepers on how to comply with the legislation and help maintain high animal welfare standards.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We intend to continue being a world leader in animal welfare after we leave the EU by maintaining and strengthening our already world-class welfare standards. As part of our move to higher regulatory standards we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond our high regulatory baseline that are valued by the public.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 26/03/2019 11:34:15 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1079444

registered interest
date	28/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pellets.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	227046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2019 answer text <p>Farmers are required by law to have access to and be familiar with the statutory farm welfare codes, which provide guidance for keepers on how to comply with animal welfare legislation and help us maintain our high animal welfare standards. The codes are also used by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to check how well animal welfare standards are being met. We have an ongoing dialogue with APHA on all animal welfare matters, including those relating to enforcement, and the latest updated code of practice for the welfare of laying hens and pullets provides keepers with up to date information on the latest practices and helps ensure high standards of compliance.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 05/03/2019 11:59:54 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1043162

registered interest
date	17/01/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of duck welfare rules for commercial duck farms; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	209783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK already has some of the highest standards of animal welfare, underpinned by existing legislation and farmed animal welfare codes. We are committed to maintaining our high animal welfare standards and to keep improving where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of ducks is provided for in the general provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. Defra has a statutory duck welfare code which encourages high standards of husbandry.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the main farm assurance schemes have standards in place which their members must also comply with, which set requirements to ensure the health and welfare of commercially produced ducks.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/01/2019 12:35:46 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

967772

registered interest
date	04/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of slaughterhouses in the UK are not compliant with the European Union regulation EC 1099/2009 Annex I on stunning poultry in electric water baths.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	170283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>The information that we have received from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests that currently 3 out of the 50 poultry plants in England and Wales are using non Annex 1 water bath stunning parameters for religious slaughter.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Welsh Government commissioned the FSA to carry out a survey on our behalf on how animals are sourced, slaughtered and then distributed in England and Wales. We hope to publish the results of that survey shortly. Any further reforms in this area will be considered in light of the FSA survey.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Where stunning is carried out, including for religious slaughter, it must be effective in rendering the animal unconscious and insensible to pain and the animal must remain unconscious and insensible to pain until death. Where animals are not stunned correctly the FSA will take appropriate action to prevent animals from suffering. The legislation in England permits religious slaughter to be carried out by a Muslim or Jewish person for the food of Muslim or Jewish people respectively.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 170284 170285 170286 170287 question first answered 10/09/2018 14:00:18 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

967773

registered interest
date	04/09/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of electric waterbaths for stunning poultry that use frequencies outside of the parameters set out in Annex 1 of EC 1099/2009.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	170284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>The information that we have received from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests that currently 3 out of the 50 poultry plants in England and Wales are using non Annex 1 water bath stunning parameters for religious slaughter.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Welsh Government commissioned the FSA to carry out a survey on our behalf on how animals are sourced, slaughtered and then distributed in England and Wales. We hope to publish the results of that survey shortly. Any further reforms in this area will be considered in light of the FSA survey.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Where stunning is carried out, including for religious slaughter, it must be effective in rendering the animal unconscious and insensible to pain and the animal must remain unconscious and insensible to pain until death. Where animals are not stunned correctly the FSA will take appropriate action to prevent animals from suffering. The legislation in England permits religious slaughter to be carried out by a Muslim or Jewish person for the food of Muslim or Jewish people respectively.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice grouped question UIN 170283 170285 170286 170287 question first answered 10/09/2018 14:00:18 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

943040

registered interest
date	17/07/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of electrical water bath systems for the stunning of poultry after the UK has left the European Union.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	164984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2018 answer text <p>European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 requires all animals to be stunned before slaughter using the methods and parameters listed in Annex 1 to the Regulation, which includes electrical waterbath stunning. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 will convert the existing body of EU animal welfare law into UK law.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>According to a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2013, 71% of poultry in GB were stunned using a gas stunning system with 25% being electronically stunned. Defra and Welsh Government have asked the FSA to carry out an updated version of the survey for 2018. We hope to publish the results of the survey later in the year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are committed to reviewing the legislation on protecting animals at the time of killing before 2020 and considering the extent to which the objectives of the legislation have been met.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 24/07/2018 13:07:42 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

942650

registered interest
date	16/07/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to reduce the maximum permitted broiler stocking density after the UK has left the EU.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	164418
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2018 answer text <p>Under our current regulations, producers in Great Britain are not permitted to stock meat chickens at the highest densities allowed in many other countries in the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are committed to maintaining our high animal welfare standards and to keep improving where possible. We have made it clear that as we leave the EU, we will maintain and enhance our reputation as a global leader on animal welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 23/07/2018 14:25:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

942652

registered interest
date	16/07/2018
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of enriched hen cages after the UK has left the EU.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	164419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2018 answer text <p>The new statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets, which provides improved and up-to-date guidance for owners and keepers on how to comply with legislation relating to all permitted production systems, will come into force on 8 August. This reflects the latest scientific and veterinary advice and should lead to enhanced laying hen welfare.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government fully supports consumer choice and the requirement for clear labelling on egg packaging provides the information for consumers to make that choice. We have no current plans to ban the use of enriched ‘colony’ caged hens in egg production, but all the major supermarkets have said they will stop selling eggs from hens kept in enriched cages by 2025.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 23/07/2018 14:22:29 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord