Thank you for contacting me about the welfare of farm animals.
I would like to assure you that I take the welfare of all animals very seriously. I know that the Government is committed to maintaining our world-leading farm animals welfare standards, and I welcome that ministers will deliver a series of ambitious reforms, as outlined in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
One of the ways in which the Government wishes to improve the welfare of farm animals is strengthening protections against animal confinement, and I know that the Government is actively exploring options for improving the UK food system and this includes phasing out the use of cages in farming.
Ministers have been clear that they intend for farrowing crates to no longer be used for sows. It is important that we progress towards a system that both works commercially and safeguards the welfare of the sow and her piglets, and that we do so as quickly as possible. I am glad that the UK is already ahead of most pig producing countries in terms of non-confinement farrowing, with around 40 per cent of our pigs housed outside and not farrowed with crates.
Hens/ Hen Caging (Prohibition) Bill: I recognise that the ‘enriched’ colony cage system restricts a bird’s ability to exhibit normal behaviours so I am encouraged that the Government is also examining the use of cages for all laying hens. I also welcome the commitment from our major retailers, with support from egg producers, to stop retailing eggs from enriched colony cage production systems by 2025. I know that the UK already has a much larger free-range sector than any EU country, with over 50 per cent of our hens kept in free range systems.
In the case of the Private Members’ Bill on hen caging, sponsored by Henry Smith MP, while my ministerial colleagues support the principle behind the Bill, any proposals to ban cages would need to be subjected to a consultation, and any changes would need to allow time for the industry to adapt.
I am encouraged by the Government’s agenda to tackle animal welfare issues. Ministers are taking action to improve the health and wellbeing of farm animals, including the commitment to end excessively long journeys for live animals going for slaughter and for fattening. This will be addressed through the Kept Animals Bill.
Finally, I am glad that ministers have committed to co-designing an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway under this plan, which aims to promote the production of healthier, higher-welfare farm animals at a level beyond compliance with current regulations. The direction of the Pathway so far has been developed in active partnership with industry.
Of course, if you do have specific concerns about the welfare of an animal, I would recommend reporting it to the police or to the RSPCA.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
March 2022