Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1247318

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	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	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 plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to maintain animal welfare after the end of the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	109630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to high standards of animal welfare. We are working to deliver a number of manifesto commitments that will strengthen our position as a world leader in this field at the end of the Transition Period.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to introduce tougher sentences for animal cruelty. To deliver this, we are currently supporting the passage of a Private Member’s Bill, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, which increases the maximum custodial penalty for the worst animal cruelty offences from six months or an unlimited fine to five years or an unlimited fine.</p><p> </p><p>We will take advantage of our departure from the EU to deliver our manifesto commitment to end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening of livestock. We have previously run a call for evidence on the topic and will launch a full consultation before the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to work on delivering our other manifesto commitments, including developing new laws on animal sentience and cracking down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies. We will also be consulting in the near future on our commitments to ban pet primates, introduce mandatory cat microchipping and implement the Ivory Act. We have also committed to ban imports from trophy hunting of endangered animals. We ran a call for evidence and consultation on this issue and the Government will be publishing our response to this as soon as we are able to do so.</p><p>In addition to supporting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, we are considering the best legislative vehicle to bring forward these reforms in the near future.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 09/11/2020 17:10:14 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1184317

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2020
	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	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 progress his Department has made on the development of the legal recognition of animal sentience.
	tabling member constituency	Bosworth
	tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
	uin	28003
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2020 answer text <p>I refer my Hon. Friend to the reply given to the Hon. Member for City of Chester, Christian Matheson, on 20 January 2020, PQ <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-01-15/3774" target="_blank">3774</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Any necessary changes required to domestic law will be made in a rigorous and comprehensive way after the transition period.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/03/2020 14:33:59 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1351452

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	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	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 take steps to ensure that future policy decisions relating to animal welfare are evidence-based.
	tabling member constituency	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
	tabling member printed	Dr Dan Poulter
	uin	40836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2021 answer text <p>Defra applies an evidence-based approach to policy decision-making which makes use of several sources. These include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>externally commissioned research;</li><li>collaboration with academia and other research organisations;</li><li>internal evidence gathering by scientists, veterinarians, social researchers, economists, statisticians and operational researchers;</li><li>expert committees including the Animal Welfare Committee and the Zoos Expert Committee;</li><li>views provided by the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England;</li><li>information and evidence provided by or obtained from other sources including non-governmental organisations, industry bodies and other stakeholders;</li><li>information and evidence provided by or obtained from other government bodies, including the Devolved Administrations.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This year Defra’s research and innovation interests were published, setting out the high-level research aims for Defra policies including with reference to animal welfare. This is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defra-group-research-and-innovation-interests-2021/defra-group-research-and-innovation-interests" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defra-group-research-and-innovation-interests-2021/defra-group-research-and-innovation-interests</a></p><p> </p><p>The Animal Sentience Bill currently before Parliament also provides for a new animal sentience committee to issue reports on how well future central government policy decisions pay all due regard to the welfare needs of animals.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 06/09/2021 12:38:07 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter

1187078

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	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	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 plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on animal sentience.
	tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
	tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
	uin	33445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government has committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in a rigorous and comprehensive way after the transition period and will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows. Defra is currently assessing how best to support Government departments in considering the welfare needs of sentient animals when they are developing and implementing Government policy.</p><p> </p><p>Defra engages with a wide range of stakeholders on a number of animal welfare issues, including animal sentience.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/04/2020 15:23:51 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

1279011

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2021
	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	Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	When he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on animal sentience.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	911180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/01/2021 15:39:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1354254

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	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 local authorities’ ability to enforce animal health and welfare legislation that is designed to protect domesticated and wild animals.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Steve Reed
	uin	45842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government has already taken significant steps to improve the welfare of domestic and other animals. The Animal Health and Welfare Framework has been produced to help county councils, unitary authorities and metropolitan boroughs in England deliver their statutory duties in relation to the health and welfare of farmed animals. Published in May 2021, our Action Plan for Animal Welfare sets out an ambitious programme of future reforms which will strengthen our position as a world leader in this field.</p><p> </p><p>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 were developed to help improve standards and enforcement across a range of animal activities licensed by local authorities; for example, modernising the regulation of dog breeding, pet selling and animal boarding. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the requirements of licenses in these areas and have access to appropriately trained officers. Statutory guidance aims to improve consistency with the interpretation and application by local authorities of the regulatory regime across England. Ultimately, however, it is for local authorities themselves to decide how best to use the powers of inspection and licensing available to implement the regime and deal with individual cases.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 14/09/2021 14:18:36 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1231774

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2020
	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	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 it is Government policy to bring forward legislative proposals on animal sentience; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
	tabling member printed	Beth Winter
	uin	86188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to further strengthening our world-leading animal welfare standards. We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 10/09/2020 16:27:13 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4809 label Biography information for Beth Winter

1246545

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2020
	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	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 on animal sentience before the end of the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
	tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
	uin	108246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to further strengthening our world-leading animal welfare standards. We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience following a clear manifesto commitment. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, the Government’s policies on animal welfare continue to be driven by our recognition that animals are sentient beings. We ensure animal welfare needs are met by placing direct obligations on keepers of animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Our commitment to the protection of animal welfare is demonstrated by the Government’s continued support for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, sponsored by Chris Loder MP, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 23 October.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 02/11/2020 16:03:49 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1311050

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2021
	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	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 he is taking to improve the welfare of (a) domestic and (b) other animals in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	185291
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2021 answer text <p>The UK is a global leader in animal welfare. The Government has already taken significant steps to improve the welfare of domestic and others animals and we are currently considering the best legislative vehicle to bring forward a range of further animal welfare and animal-related measures to strengthen our position as a world leader in this field. This includes delivering our manifesto commitments when Parliamentary time allows.</p><p> </p><p>We have modernised the regulation (licensing) of a range of animal activities including dog breeding, pet selling and animal boarding. These animal welfare regulations apply modern welfare standards and make it easier for local authorities to enforce.</p><p> </p><p>We banned the commercial third-party sale of puppies and kittens which has been a significant milestone towards disrupting the unscrupulous trade that supports cruel puppy farming and smuggling. Through our national ‘Petfished’ campaign we continue to educate prospective pet owners on how to source pets responsibly, avoiding the common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet.</p><p> </p><p>We launched a public consultation on introducing compulsory cat microchipping in England. Microchipping means lost cats can be identified and returned home rather than handed into rehoming charities as strays. It also means that injured cats can be quickly identified by vets and their owners can be informed and involved in their care.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill which will increase the maximum custodial penalty for animal cruelty offences from six month to five years imprisonment. This increase will act as a strong deterrent to those that commit such appalling acts and provide one of the toughest sanctions in Europe. This legislation, coupled with the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019, will also ensure that those who harm service animals are punished accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>We have a strong track record in raising the bar for farm animal welfare standards — such as banning battery cages for laying hens, sow stalls and veal crates and introducing CCTV in all slaughterhouses in England. We will strengthen the regulatory baseline to ensure we maintain our high standards and look to raise them sustainably over time as new research and evidence emerges.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently examining the evidence around the use of cages for farm animals.</p><p>We are delivering on our manifesto commitment and we hope to have legislation in place to end live animal exports for slaughter and fattening by the end of the year.</p><p>We have consulted on a wide range of proposals to improve animal welfare in transport and we will be publishing our response to the consultation and outlining how we will take reforms forward later this year. We are carefully considering potential improvements identified by the recent review of the regulations concerning the welfare of animals at the time of killing.</p><p> </p><p>We are also co-designing an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which aims to promote the production of healthier, higher-welfare farm animals at a level beyond compliance with current regulations. The direction of the Pathway so far has been developed in active partnership with industry and a range of stakeholders through our co-design approach.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Pathway, we are developing publicly-funded incentives for English farmers to provide enhanced animal health and welfare beyond the regulatory baseline. These incentives will be for enhancements valued by the public but not sufficiently provided for by the market. Small and large grants will also be used to co-fund investment in measures that will increase animal health and welfare over the statutory baseline.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 26/04/2021 16:50:15 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1283069

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2021
	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	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 progress his Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals on animal sentience.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	147902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2021 answer text <p>We have committed to bringing in new laws on animal sentience. Any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in an effective and credible way and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 08/02/2021 16:51:11 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady