Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Animal Welfare

Thursday 21 January 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Luke Evans asked the Minister about steps to ensure the UK leads in animal welfare.
  • Luke Evans noted a rise in demand and price for puppies in the UK during lockdown.
  • The Minister mentioned regulations requiring dog breeders and sellers to be licensed.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP seeks steps to ensure the UK's global lead in animal welfare.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure the UK is a global leader in animal welfare?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The Government are committed to the animal welfare agenda. Currently, we are working on proposals to ban live exports for slaughter or fattening, banning primates as pets and introducing compulsory microchipping for cats. We will increase sentences for animal cruelty, enhance the welfare standards of farmed animals and bring forward proposals relating to animal sentience.

Answered
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Q2 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP notes a significant rise in puppy demand and prices during lockdown, impacting reputable breeders' decisions to continue breeding due to welfare concerns.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer, and I am grateful for all she is doing, but both the demand for puppies in the UK and their price have skyrocketed over lockdown. I declare an interest: I bought two of the same breed several months apart and saw a doubling in the price. I have been speaking to reputable breeders, and they are choosing not to breed their dogs because of concerns about welfare. What are the Government doing to ensure puppy welfare, clamp down on puppy farms and stop puppy profiteering?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

My hon. Friend raises an important question, which I know he has campaigned on before. Regulations in England require anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs to be licensed. Last year, we banned commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens, and also launched our national Petfished campaign to educate the public on how to source pets responsibly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on specific actions to ensure puppy welfare and combat profiteering were not provided beyond previous measures.

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