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1384605

registered interest
date	03/12/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory duty for local authorities to employ an Animal Welfare Officer.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	86559
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2021 answer text <p>Local authorities are responsible for enforcing certain animal-related activities which are licensed, such as pet selling, dog breeding and selling, animal boarding, riding schools and the exhibiting of animals. Therefore, every local authority at district level will have access to officers who enforce animal welfare standards. Local authorities have powers, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, to investigate allegations of animal cruelty or poor welfare. Local authorities must be allowed to decide how to enforce the 2006 Act based upon local priorities and resources.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 13/12/2021 15:12:48 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1365564

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Sentencing Council on updating the Sentencing Guidelines for animal cruelty offences following the enactment of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	68252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Secretary of State meets with the Chairman of the Sentencing Council periodically to discuss a wide range of relevant issues.</p><p> </p><p>The Council is independent of Parliament and Government and decides on its own priorities and work plan for developing and revising guidelines. To reflect the higher maximum penalties introduced by the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the Council is currently developing a revised guideline for animal cruelty offences, and plans to consult on that revision in due course. The Council has also published interim guidance for offences committed on or after 29 June 2021 to take account of the increase in maximum penalties. This can be found at: <a href="https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/animal-cruelty-interim-guidance/" target="_blank">https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/animal-cruelty-interim-guidance/</a>.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 08/11/2021 16:51:07 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

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

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

1348695

registered interest
date	20/07/2021
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 ensure animal welfare legislation is enforced in response to the reduction in the RSPCA's animal welfare inspectorate.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	36604
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2021 answer text <p>Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), local authorities, the Animal &amp; Plant Health Agency and the police all have powers to investigate allegations of animal cruelty or poor welfare (including power of entry to inspect premises).</p><p> </p><p>Under the 2006 Act, anyone is able to take forward a prosecution, and it is on this basis that the RSPCA has been enforcing animal welfare legislation in this country. The RSPCA currently successfully prosecutes 800 to 1,000 people each year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the valuable work the RSPCA does to improve the welfare of animals. Defra remains committed to continuing its engagement with the RSPCA, and other organisations involved in enforcement activities, so that our high animal welfare standards are maintained and offenders are subject to appropriate penalties.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 28/07/2021 15:18:37 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

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

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

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