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Animal Welfare Strategy for England
21 January 2026
Lead MP
Samantha Niblett
South Derbyshire
Lab
Responding Minister
Dame Angela Eagle
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Word Count: 13949
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Samantha Niblett raised concerns about animal welfare strategy for england in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Samantha Niblett welcomes the Labour Government’s recent animal welfare strategy which sets out clear ambitions to be achieved by 2030 on improving the lives of companion animals, wild animals, farmed animals and animals overseas. She also advocates for addressing loopholes around breeding, banning snare traps, delivering on manifesto commitments such as banning trail hunting.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The UK has a proud and long-standing history of championing animal welfare, with the first piece of animal welfare legislation anywhere in the world being enacted in 1822. Samantha Niblett highlights the importance of protecting animals who are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, fear and joy, stressing the moral duty to safeguard their welfare. She mentions an estimated 35 million pets living in the UK with the pet care market worth £8.2 billion, and around 150 million farmed animals in England at any one time.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Welcomes the strategy but warns that without clarity on delivery, reforms may remain aspirational. Highlights the stark challenge of intensive farming practices and calls for time-bound commitments to end cage use.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Asked about simple secondary legislation to give cats the same protection as dogs in road traffic accidents.
Cat Eccles
Lab
Stourbridge
Raises issues around cat welfare protections, noting inconsistencies compared to dogs. Calls for the strategy to include legal protection for cats involved in road traffic collisions and stricter breeding regulations.
Charlie Dewhirst
Con
Bridlington and The Wolds
Supported measures around slaughter but expressed concern about potential challenges and costs to transition away from carbon dioxide stunning methods, emphasizing the need for British food production security.
Filton and Bradley Stoke
Claire Hazelgrove pays tribute to local campaigners who have helped keep animal welfare issues at the heart of the agenda. She thanks Samantha Niblett for securing this debate.
Responded that there are no current plans for such legislation, but is open to considering it if raised again.
Winchester
Supported the debate, highlighting the issue of breeding dogs with extreme conformation such as brachycephalic dogs, noting a significant increase in popularity and associated health issues.
Irene Campbell
Lab
North Ayrshire and Arran
Welcomed the Labour Government's commitment to help farmers become more profitable and highlighted the cost of introducing in-ovo sexing of eggs as approximately 1p per egg.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasised the need to ban the import of hunting trophies and highlighted the importance of humane traps for predator control. He also acknowledged the role of animal testing in saving lives while opposing it on many levels.
Joe Morris
Lab
Hexham
Discussed the extension of the fox hunting ban to include trail hunting and supported improving food labelling to promote high-welfare food standards, domestic procurement, and reducing carbon emissions caused by imported foods.
John Whitby
Lab
Derbyshire Dales
Welcomed the commitment to end puppy farming and called on the Government to ensure that the practice is ended as soon as possible.
Aylesbury
Congratulated the lead MP on securing the debate and highlighted local animal welfare initiatives and charities supporting mental health through animals.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Leigh Ingham supports the Government’s decision to transition to non-cage systems for laying hens and consult on phasing out enriched colony cages. He discusses the issue of salmonella in eggs from imported caged birds, highlighting the competitive disadvantage faced by British farmers.
Liz Jarvis
LD
Eastleigh
Welcomes the introduction of the Government’s animal welfare strategy but calls for it to go further on issues such as greyhound racing, trophy hunting, and enforcement of zoo licensing.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Welcomes the ambition of the Government’s animal welfare strategy but calls for it to be strengthened further, highlighting its importance in improving the lives of millions of animals.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware of recent Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on illegal meat imports during previous government's tenure.
Rachel Taylor
Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Rachel Taylor thanks Samantha Niblett for securing the debate and expresses concerns about barbaric electric-shock collars, the Warwickshire hunt and local wildlife. She agrees that the welfare strategy will tackle these concerns.
Robbie Moore
Con
Haltemprice and Howden
Welcomed the animal welfare strategy but pointed out that it was announced after Parliament had risen to avoid scrutiny. Emphasised the importance of working with farmers to ensure reforms are affordable, practical, effective, and promote animal welfare. Robbie Moore clarified the opposition's stance against fox hunting and trail hunting, arguing that the inclusion of trail hunting in the strategy is indicative of the government’s naivety.
Gavin Williamson
Con
Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Welcomed the strategy's moves but raised concerns about exporting jobs abroad due to low-welfare standard meat imports. Highlighted a need for imported products to match UK welfare standards.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Acknowledges some positive steps by the Government while also highlighting concerns about domestic food security and competitiveness, urging protection against imported products produced in less humane conditions.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Welcomes the animal welfare strategy and raises concerns about insurance for pets who are too old to insure or whose families cannot afford the premiums. Calls for urgent action on the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 reform.
Will Stone
Lab
Swindon North
Asked about better regulation, transparency in pricing for common services, capped prescription charges, and clearer practices regarding ownership to bring down vet bills.
Government Response
Dame Angela Eagle
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Government Response
The Labour Government published a new animal welfare strategy for England in December, setting out a comprehensive plan to improve standards and deliver ambitious reforms. The minister highlighted that the strategy will be introduced progressively with consultations on various issues, and stressed the importance of a strategic approach rather than piecemeal interventions. Consulting on reforming dog-breeding practices and improving animal welfare. Banning trail hunting and snare traps, proposing a closed season for hares to protect young animals, phasing out intensive confinement systems such as cages and crates, consulting on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning for pigs, introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish, and publishing guidance on humane methods of killing decapods.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.