Thank you for contacting me about animal welfare.
Let me be clear, there is no place in this country for animal cruelty, and I recognise the importance of ensuring that those who abuse animals are met with the full force of the law.
I know that the previous Government took proactive action to improve animal welfare. For example, since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, it brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences and supported measures to ban the advertising and offering for sale of low welfare activities abroad.
Therefore, due to the actions of the previous Government, the UK is already a world leader in animal welfare.
I believe that any potential future changes to animal welfare will need to be evidence based. I understand that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is undertaking research in several areas and I will follow any developments closely.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.