Petitions Committee raises petitioners’ animal welfare concerns with the Government

• Read the Committee’s letter
• Petitions Committee

In the letter dated 24 May, Catherine McKinnell asks for more information on steps the Government is taking to address petitioners’ concerns relating to:

• Shark finning
• Advertising of low welfare animal experiences
• Reforms to improve farmed animal welfare standards

Measures to address the first two of these issues were expected to have been included as part of an Animals Abroad Bill, but this Bill was not included in the Queen’s Speech. The Queen’s Speech sets out the Government’s plans for new laws, and changes to existing laws, for the parliamentary year ahead.

The Government has also previously stated that it was exploring phasing out the use of cages in farming. This letter is therefore asking for more information on the Government’s plans, to help inform a debate the Petitions Committee has scheduled on a petition relating to the use of cages for farmed animals, to be held on Monday 20 June.

The Government’s response will be published on the Committee’s website, and shared with petitioners, when it is received.

Further information

• Find out more about the role of the Petitions Committee
• Find out more about select committees

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