Protecting animals and enhancing animal welfare means a great deal to me and I recognise the strength of feeling this issue raises for my constituents and for my colleagues across the House.
The UK is a world leader in animal welfare and and I was pleased the last Conservative Government took proactive action such as introducing new laws to recognise animal sentience, introducing tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences and banning wild animals in travelling circuses.
My colleagues and I take the welfare of all animals extremely seriously and were committed to strengthening and supporting long-term conservation of animals, internationally and at home while in Government. I was fortunate to be able to help deliver the world leading Ivory Act during my time as the Government Whip at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which enforced a near total ban on the import, export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory. So, I do appreciate the need for action around trophy hunting.
As you may know, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill was introduced to Parliament in June 2022 as a Private Member’s Bill to ban the import of hunting trophies from around 6,000 species, including lions, elephants, rhinos, and polar bears. It is disappointing that, despite overwhelming support from MPs and the public, this Bill failed to complete its passage before the general election. I can assure you that I will continue to advocate for a ban on the importation of animal trophies into the UK. I am aware that the new Government promised to ban the import of hunting trophies in the Labour manifesto, and I will be watching to see if Ministers stick to this promise.
In the last Parliament, the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed, having been fully supported by the previous Government. This allows the new Labour Government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed. Such activities, attractions and experiences are unacceptable, and it would be far better for tourists from the UK to opt to visit higher welfare attractions and experiences abroad.
The Association of British Travel Agents has published guidance and lists activities which have been classified as unacceptable. I would strongly encourage all holidaymakers to research activities before taking part and consider the potential impact on animals and wildlife. In addition, I would actively encourage tourists to report any animal welfare concerns to their UK tour operator or travel agent on return to the UK.
The last Government also took action to tackle the practice of puppy farming; following the introduction of Lucy’s Law in 2020, everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres, which is a major step in stopping the illegal pet trade. If an individual sells puppies or kittens without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.
We also delivered on a key manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs with the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which was introduced in Parliament in December 2023.
However, while the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world which we can be proud of, it is right that we continue to improve those standards where it is needed. I support the strengthened penalties introduced by the previous Conservative Government, which send a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated and enable our courts to take a firmer approach to cases where pets are illegally imported.
The UK has one of the most rigorous pet travel border checking regimes in the world, and I am aware that every dog travelling into Great Britain on approved routes has its microchip and paperwork checked to ensure they are properly vaccinated and old enough to travel.
In the previous parliamentary session, the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was introduced as a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by former Conservative MP Selaine Saxby. Unfortunately, despite support from the last Government, the Bill did not complete its passage before the general election.
Still retaining its unanimous cross-party support, Danny Chambers MP has reintroduced the Bill in this current Parliamentary Session. I can assure you, I am supporting it fully as it makes its way through the House. The Bill, which has been co-supported by Dr Neil Hudson MP, Shadow Defra Minister, includes the same provisions as the previous version of the Bill such as the measures to address the problem of low-welfare imports of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom. The Bill includes powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs and cats that are mutilated (which includes the cropping of a dog’s ears, the docking of a dog’s tail or the declawing of a cat), subject to limited exemptions.
My colleague, Dr Neil Hudson MP, shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister, spoke for us all at the Second Reading of the Bill on 29th November 2024,
‘Animal welfare unites us in humanity….I can proudly say that His Majesty’s loyal Opposition strongly support this Bill in the interests of animal health and welfare.’
