Thank you for contacting me about the use of cages for farm animals.
I welcome the action taken by the last Government to improve animal welfare, such as banning the export of live animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs and horses for fattening or slaughter, with the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024, and increasing the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty from six months to five years with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. Pivotally, animal sentience was enshrined in law through the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, thereby establishing the Animal Sentience Committee, which ensures that any new legislation pays due regard to animal welfare.
I understand that some organisations, including the RSPCA, have launched campaigns urging the Government to publish consultations on phasing out the use of enriched colony cages for laying hens and of farrowing crates for pigs.
I support banning cages or close confinement systems where clear scientific evidence demonstrates that they are detrimental to animal and bird health and welfare. That is in keeping with much of the UK’s existing legislation on the use of cages and crates, including: the ban on keeping calves in veal crates, introduced in 1990; the ban on keeping sows in close confinement stalls, introduced in 1999; and the ban on the use of battery cages for laying hens, introduced in 2012.
The RSPCA has played a significant role in leading the way on encouraging high standards when it comes to this issue, with RSPCA Assured not permitting the use of colony cages for laying hens or farrowing crates for pigs.
I note that the British Veterinary Association has called for the phasing out of farrowing crates, saying that the Government should provide a 15-year transition period by which all new builds cannot contain farrowing crates except where already agreed, to be followed by a shift from a crate system to alternative methods, such as adaptive farrowing accommodation or free farrowing systems, as soon as possible. The Minister has confirmed that the Government is "considering very carefully" the use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals, including farrowing crates. I hope that, if the Government does plan reforms, Ministers will work with industry to make sure they are affordable, practical, effective and, at their heart, promote animal and bird welfare. I will monitor any developments closely.
