Farmed Animals: Cages

She echoed Patricia Gibson's points and noted that interrogating animal welfare standards becomes difficult when food is produced far from its consumption location, citing emails from constituents supporting the issue.

Bill Wiggin is concerned about the lack of detail and honesty in the debate on farmed animals, noting that most of the 'animals' mentioned are chickens. He highlights the impact of avian influenza on free-range chickens, pointing out that 180,000 extra piglets will die if crates are not used. Wiggin stresses the need for truth and accuracy in discussing animal welfare and import issues. It would be much easier if we had honesty in food labelling, because then at least as consumers we can make a choice.

Mr Zeichner highlighted the continuation of cage use for farmed animals despite improvements over decades. He mentioned that around 16 million farmed animals are still kept in cages annually, citing alternatives to current practices and calling for changes. Concerned about consumer demand affecting supply chains and rising energy costs, he emphasized difficulties within the poultry and pig sectors, including issues with egg producers due to avian flu. Mr Zeichner also discussed the welfare of pigs and calves, noting that cage systems can lead to higher stress levels and poor health outcomes. He urged for action on cages used for game birds, questioning if DEFRA would call for evidence later in the year as part of an investigation into their welfare.

Noted disappointment that there was nothing in the Queen's Speech about animal welfare reforms. Emphasised the need for action on cage use, highlighting poor conditions for sows and game birds.

Reflecting on the advancement in animal welfare by Sir David Amess, Lisa Cameron agrees that due to severe confinement of UK sows farrowing indoors in crates, with no space for natural social behaviours and similar conditions as found in countries like Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, it is necessary to outlaw these crates.

She highlighted the concern over low quality of life for caged animals, noting that enriched cages are still too small and restrict natural movements. She cited examples from European countries banning cage systems and called for UK to match EU standards by 2027, stressing the need to avoid disparity in costs between free-range and caged-hen eggs.

The speaker expressed concern about the suffering of animals in cages, noting that over 78% of people across the UK oppose factory-farming practices. She highlighted that millions of farmed animals are kept in cages despite EU plans to ban caging by potentially 2027 and urged the UK Government to phase out cages for gamebirds, laying hens, and farrowing crates for sows.

Roger Gale mentions that banning veal crates in the UK led to importing products from continental Europe where similar crates were still used. He argues for a ban on all crates now, citing Brexit as an opportunity to prevent such imports. Argued that leaving the EU allows us to control what products we allow into the UK based on our own standards, suggesting this could prevent importing goods produced under circumstances not permitted in the UK. He asked Margaret Ferrier if she agreed that a managed transition away from cages was necessary to prevent economic disruption, and if it should be accompanied by controlling imports of products produced under unacceptable conditions.

Ms Villiers advocated for a managed transition away from the use of cages in farming, citing the welfare issues associated with enriched cages and the success of major companies transitioning to cage-free systems. She emphasized the need for an Economic Land Management scheme that prioritizes higher welfare standards and urged the Government to publish a consultation on banning enriched cages.

Asked if new animal welfare legislation will avoid outsourcing poor practice to other countries when banning cages. In an intervention, she agreed that retailers should embrace cage-free practices even as the UK faces a cost of living crisis to ensure better welfare standards are accessible for all consumers.