Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Animal Welfare

25 May 2023 · 16 other contributors

Opened by Mark Spencer Con Sherwood

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mark Spencer raised concerns about animal welfare in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Government has introduced regulations for minimum standards for meat chickens since 2010
  • UK banned conventional battery cages for laying hens
  • CCTV was made mandatory in slaughterhouses in England

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Mark Spencer

With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will provide an update on Government’s progress on animal welfare. Since 2010, the UK has introduced regulations for minimum standards for meat chickens and banned conventional battery cages for laying hens. CCTV was made mandatory in slaughterhouses in England. Other key measures include pet microchipping, modernised licensing systems, Finn's law to protect service animals, and a ban on commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens. The Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019 prohibits the use of wild animals in circuses. The Government also banned glue traps, introduced tougher sentencing for animal cruelty, and made cat microchipping compulsory. In 2021, an ambitious action plan was published with reforms covering farmed animals, pets, and sporting animals. Key manifesto commitments include passing the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, making cat microchipping mandatory, and extending ivory protection to five endangered species. The new Animal Sentience Committee will advise on policy decisions taking account of animal welfare. A consultation is also being launched for financial penalties up to £5,000 against those who commit offences against animals. We continue to support private Member’s Bills by my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) and others. The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is being reworked into single-issue legislation as its multi-issue nature has caused scope-creep.

Other contributors (16)
  • Alex Sobel Lab Co-op Leeds Central and Headingley

    Question

    The Government have chosen to scrap the Kept Animals Bill, which was packed with ambitious reforms. The Minister promised that the import of pregnant dogs and mutilated dogs will be banned but did not provide a timeline for this single-issue legislation.

    Minister reply

    We remain committed to delivering our manifesto commitments and we will focus on delivering these key elements through individual Bills rather than the multi-issue Kept Animals Bill. This approach is the quickest way of doing so, rather than letting that Bill be mired in political game-playing.

  • Alex Sobel Lab Co-op Leeds Central and Headingley

    Question

    Why has it taken the Minister so long to come to this decision? As with the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill—another world-leading piece of animal welfare legislation scrapped by the Government—the Minister promises that the Government’s commitments can be delivered more efficiently via single-issue Bills. It is interesting to note then that they still have not banned the import of fur and foie gras, as promised in that Bill.

    Minister reply

    I think that was a demonstration of the games the hon. Member seeks to play and would like to play, but while he plays his political games, we are getting on with delivering for animals. I can reread the list of all the things we have delivered, and even he had to acknowledge that it is an extensive list... We will deliver before the next general election.

  • Theresa Villiers

    Question

    I have campaigned for more than two decades for an end to the live export of animals for slaughter. I really appeal to the Minister and the wider Government to bring us a new Bill. Let us get on with this, and let us ban this cruel trade.

    Minister reply

    I thank my right hon. Friend for her question, and I pay tribute to her dedication in this area. As I said earlier, the good news is that not a single live animal has been exported during the time she spoke about... That gives us a window of opportunity to introduce this legislation.

  • Kirsten Oswald

    Question

    How can we believe the UK Government on animal welfare measures if that is how they behave? I am very concerned about the evident lack of will from the UK Government to act decisively to ban foie gras, for instance, despite the unforgivably cruel way in which it is produced. Why on earth will they not commit to that?

    Minister reply

    I thank the hon. Lady for her questions, but also for her acknowledgement of the huge amount of progress we have already made... The point is that we are still committed to delivering all of the measures in the kept animals Bill.

  • Laura Farris

    Question

    MBR Acres is a facility in Huntingdon that breeds beagles for the purposes of animal scientific testing. A number of my constituents have written to me raising serious concerns about the inhumane and cruel treatment to which some of those dogs are subjected. Will the Minister consider meeting me to discuss how some of the measures he has announced might be made applicable to those animals?

    Minister reply

    My hon. Friend will be aware that there is already an extensive amount of legislation on the statute book to protect animals... However, it is always a pleasure to meet her, and I am sure we can arrange a meeting either with me or with another relevant DEFRA Minister.

  • Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South

    Question

    The hon. Member questions the Government's response to banning fur trade, citing a previous commitment made in September 2021 but no action since then.

    Minister reply

    The Minister confirms that fur production is already banned in the UK and highlights an ongoing call for evidence on fur which will be published soon.

  • Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup

    Question

    The hon. Member seeks to understand how the Government can better protect animals from puppy smuggling.

    Minister reply

    The Minister outlines plans for a single-issue Bill aimed at stopping imports of heavily pregnant dogs and puppies with mutilations, which would be implemented more quickly than under the kept animals Bill.

  • Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

    Question

    The hon. Member criticises the Government's approach to animal welfare legislation as petty and piecemeal.

    Minister reply

    The Minister highlights significant progress made on animal welfare, including measures for meat chickens, battery cages, and CCTV in slaughterhouses.

  • Anna Firth

    Question

    The hon. Member proposes Emilie's law to criminalise the irresponsible killing of another dog by one’s own dog.

    Minister reply

    The Minister expresses willingness to meet with the hon. Member to discuss how they can assist in supporting Emilie's law.

  • Tan Dhesi Lab Slough

    Question

    The hon. Member accuses the Government of failing animal lovers by letting down millions of British people due to their inability to control Back Benchers.

    Minister reply

    The Minister denies this accusation, stating that they will deliver on commitments more efficiently through single-issue Bills instead of the kept animals Bill.

  • Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim

    Question

    The hon. Member expresses concern about Northern Ireland not being able to benefit from animal welfare legislation due to the Northern Ireland protocol and the Windsor framework.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledges this issue but refers it beyond his remit, suggesting that concerns are recognised in Downing Street.

  • Stephen Doughty Lab Co-op Cardiff South and Penarth

    Question

    The hon. Member questions the lack of a firm timetable for dealing with puppy smuggling.

    Minister reply

    The Minister states that measures will now be divided into smaller chunks to expedite delivery, avoiding political games.

  • Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth

    Question

    The hon. Member discusses the implications of trade agreements with Australia on UK agricultural markets.

    Minister reply

    The Minister clarifies that pork, poultry, and eggs were deliberately excluded from the Australia trade deal due to welfare standards.

  • Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire

    Question

    The hon. Member requests an apology for dropping the kept animals Bill.

    Minister reply

    The Minister reassures that the commitment remains, but the delivery approach will be more efficient through single-issue Bills.

  • Sarah Owen Lab Luton North

    Question

    Whipsnade Zoo carries out fantastic, world-leading conservation work. During the pandemic, thousands of constituents called for Government support for zoos which was not provided. The MP criticises the Government's handling of Brexit negotiations and their decision to drop zoo standards as a sign of weakness in animal welfare policies.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledges the quality of the UK zoo sector and its high welfare standards, emphasising ongoing collaboration with the sector to improve conservation work and publish updated zoo standards by the end of the year, developed in consultation with experts.

Shadow Comment

Alex Sobel

The Government’s decision to scrap the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is a profound setback for animal welfare in the UK, confirming their inability to deliver on promises. The Minister claimed Labour was playing political games but it is the Government who are failing to implement necessary reforms such as ending live exports and puppy smuggling. The Minister said the Government would ban imports of young, heavily pregnant or mutilated dogs but failed to provide a timeline. Animal welfare charities have campaigned tirelessly for these reforms and Britain is known for its strong support towards animal welfare issues. Labour has always been committed to protecting animals by passing laws such as those against fox hunting and tightening rules on live animal transport.

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