Context
The Animal Law Foundation’s report “The Enforcement Problem” highlights that only around 2.2% of farmers were inspected in 2024, with less than half of complaints about farmed animal welfare leading to inspections and only 2% resulting in prosecution.
Question
What steps her Department is taking to help support farmers to adopt higher animal welfare standards. Further details on how the forthcoming animal welfare strategy will ensure that credible complaints are consistently investigated and enforcement bodies have the resources and duties needed to act when animal welfare concerns are raised.
Answer from The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Reynolds)
Our animal health and welfare pathway scheme provides funding to farmers to improve the health and welfare of their livestock. It also supports veterinary visits to discuss health and welfare, and it provides capital grants for equipment and infrastructure to improve animal welfare. I am pleased that 7,000 farmers have already signed up to receive funding. Further details on this issue will be set out in the forthcoming animal welfare strategy, and we need to work more closely with councils to ensure better enforcement of regulations.
Not addressed: The specific mechanisms for investigation and prosecution were not detailed.
How: Under Review, Will Focus On
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