This week during DEFRA questions, Richard was keen to ensure that the Government is keeping up the momentum of the work already done on animal welfare measures. His question to the Secretary of State and her reply can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN0lURaZU2A.
The Kept Animals Bill, introduced in June 2021, was designed to implement several of the Government’s ambitions for animal welfare. This included banning the live exports of animals, seeking to prevent pet theft, and new measures to tackle livestock worrying. The Bill’s multi-issue nature means that there has been considerable scope-creep, and the Bill risks being extended far beyond the original commitments in the Conservative Manifesto and the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Therefore, the Government will now be taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually during the remainder of the Parliament.
Richard Fuller MP said
This week, I asked a question of the Secretary of State, Therese Coffey, regarding the Government’s progress on two specific elements of the Bill, importing dogs with cropped ears and the keeping of primates as pets. In her response, the Government confirmed that both primary and secondary legislation is being brought forward to implement policies originally designated for the Kept Animals Bill.
I am assured that the Government remains fully committed to delivering its manifesto commitments on animal welfare. The UK has a long and proud record of supporting animal welfare and this government has taken a number of measures to further strengthen legislation in this area.
