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1646548

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2023
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce legislation against (1) puppy smuggling, (2) puppy farming, (3) pet theft, and (4) live animal exports.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL8694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2023 answer text <p>We remain committed to tackling puppy smuggling, pet theft and to banning the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter. We will be taking forward these measures individually through the remainder of this parliament. Parliamentary business will be announced in the usual way.</p><p> </p><p>This Government takes the issue of low-welfare and illegal supply of puppies very seriously. Significant steps have already been taken to improve and update the laws on dog breeding in England to crack down on unscrupulous breeders who breed dogs purely for financial greed at the expense of animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a 12-month period needs to have a valid licence from their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards, including provisions to protect dogs from being bred from too often or at too early an age.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 27/06/2023 14:22:41 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1642854

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2023
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what additional pieces of animal welfare legislation they are planning to introduce, other than those pieces of legislation whose passage has already commenced.
	tabling member printed	Lord Weir of Ballyholme
	uin	HL8331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2023 answer text <p>As outlined in our 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the Government has an ambitious agenda for animal welfare and conservation reforms, which we plan to take forward during the current Parliamentary session and beyond. We will continue to introduce and support legislative and non-legislative reforms when we can. We will be taking forward measures from the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill individually through other means during the remainder of this Parliament. These measures include three manifesto commitments, which we remain fully committed to delivering.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 13/06/2023 10:11:52 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4970 label Biography information for Lord Weir of Ballyholme

1547543

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2022
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of current legislation protecting animal (1) welfare, and (2) rights; and whether they plan further legislation in respect of animal welfare in the current session.
	tabling member printed	Lord Shipley
	uin	HL3956
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2022 answer text <p>The Government's Action Plan for Animal Welfare was published in May 2021 and can be found at: Action Plan for Animal Welfare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). A copy is attached to this answer.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 14/12/2022 16:48:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name Action Plan for Animal Welfare.pdf title Action Plan for Animal Welfare
	tabling member	4176 label Biography information for Lord Shipley

1384138

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the animal welfare implications of the shortage of workers in the processed meat sector; and what steps they are taking to address this.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL4606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2021 answer text <p>Farmers have reported an overstocking of pigs on farms because of staff shortages in processing plants. This has the potential to lead to welfare issues for pigs on farm, due to overcrowding. The Government has implemented a number of measures to address the backlog and to reduce any on-farm animal welfare implications. Defra is not aware of any animal welfare issues in other meat processing sectors due to a shortage of workers.</p><p> </p><p>The package of measures that Defra has provided to help to alleviate the backlog of pigs on farms and to ease potential welfare implications includes temporary work visas for up to 800 pork butchers and Private Storage Aid (PSA) and Slaughter Incentive Payment (SIP) schemes to facilitate an increase in the throughput of pigs through abattoirs.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in England and Scotland, the two meat levy bodies, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and Quality Meat Scotland, suspended the statutory levy for pig farmers and producers during November 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will continue to monitor the evolving situation and is working closely with the industry through this challenging period.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 17/12/2021 14:20:35 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1331031

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which parts of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill would not have been allowed had the UK remained a member of the EU.
	tabling member printed	Lord Grocott
	uin	HL852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill goes further than Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU in a number of ways. In particular The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill introduces a proportionate accountability mechanism, involving the Animal Sentience Committee. It applies to all policy areas and has no exemptions.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 22/06/2021 12:49:29 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	276 label Biography information for Lord Grocott

1328391

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 12 April (HL14638), when they intend to publish the Review of the Evidence for Sentience in Decapod Crustaceans and Cephalopod Molluscs; and whether the date of publication will allow its findings to be incorporated into the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL].
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
	uin	HL617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2021 answer text <p>There is clear evidence that animals with a backbone (vertebrates) are sentient and this is reflected in the Government’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill introduced to the House of Lords on 13 May 2021. However, the Bill also gives the Secretary of State a power to extend the recognition of sentience to particular invertebrates in future on the basis of evidence.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has commissioned an independent review of the available scientific evidence on sentience in decapod crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, as well as sentience in the class, Cephalopoda, which includes octopus, cuttlefish and squid. The review will report shortly. We look forward to receiving its conclusions, which we will respond to as part of our ongoing work to protect the welfare needs of animals.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 10/06/2021 16:13:37 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1314174

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a register of those convicted of cruelty to animals; and if so, when such a register will be established.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
	uin	HL162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of animal welfare very seriously. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 (the Act) was granted Royal Assent on the 29 April 2021. This realises the Government’s manifesto commitment to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. The Act will come into force on the 29 June 2021 increasing the maximum custodial penalty for animal cruelty offences to five years’ imprisonment, providing one of the toughest sanctions in Europe and strengthening the UK's position as a global leader on animal welfare. The strengthened penalty sends a clear message that animal cruelty is not tolerated in this country.</p><p> </p><p>All relevant information relating to prosecutions for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is stored on the Police National Computer. Certain organisations have access to this information, where appropriate to fulfil their public functions. This allows this important information to be securely protected from misuse, and also for it to be available for organisations with a justified need to access this information. In light of this, there are no current plans to establish a public register of those convicted of cruelty to animals.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 26/05/2021 12:08:37 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1306697

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to recognise animal sentience in law.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
	uin	HL14637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2021 answer text <p>This Government has a manifesto commitment to introduce new laws on animal sentience, which we will do as soon as parliamentary time allows.</p><p> </p><p>We can be rightly proud that the UK already has world-class animal welfare standards, but the Government is committed to strengthening these further, including increasing maximum sentences for animal cruelty, banning third party sales of puppies, and introducing one of the world's toughest bans on ivory sales.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 12/04/2021 13:21:45 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1306698

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide for animal sentience in law; and if so, whether the definition of animals in that law (1) will be the same as that for vertebrates in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and (2) will include decapods and cephalopods.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
	uin	HL14638
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2021 answer text <p>This Government has a manifesto commitment to introduce new laws on animal sentience, which we will do as soon as parliamentary time allows.</p><p>The current science is clear that vertebrates can experience pain and suffering. It is on that basis that the definition of &quot;animal&quot; in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is limited only to vertebrates. Defra has commissioned an independent external review of the available scientific evidence on sentience in decapods and cephalopods. This review is expected to report shortly.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 12/04/2021 15:11:38 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1279791

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2021
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to bring forward legislation to increase penalties for animal cruelty.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL12514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to animal welfare and fully supports increasing the maximum custodial sentences for animal cruelty offences from six months to five years. This will enable courts to take a firmer approach to cases such as dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, or gross neglect of farm animals. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons by Chris Loder MP on 5 February and Committee stage took place on 3 February. The Government will continue to support it as it makes its way through Parliament.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 08/02/2021 16:48:10 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch