Tuesday 28 March 2017

EFRA Commons Debate On Animal Welfare

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Select Committee Announcement


DEBATE ON ANIMAL WELFARE TO BE HELD IN CHAMBER OF HOUSE OF COMMONS



Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, is pleased to announce that he has been granted a debate on animal welfare in the House of Commons Chamber. The debate will start at approx. 11.30am on Thursday 30 March. 

You can contact your own member of parliament to find out whether they will be attending and supporting the debate.
MP contacts can be found online here - www.writetothem.com

Neil Parish MP says “Our inquiry into animal welfare highlighted the scale of the puppy trade in the UK. The quality of life of the puppies vary considerably and I believe that banning the third party sale of dogs is essential to improving the condition of dogs sold in the UK. Since the publication of our report, many welfare organisations, such as the RSPCA, have changed their minds on third party sales and agree that there should be a ban. I will be urging the Government to look again at this issue.


During our inquiry, we found that incidences of inhumane treatment of animals are all too common. Sentencing powers under the Animal Welfare Act are some of the weakest within the international community. The Animal Welfare Act was a landmark piece of legislation in 2006, but it is now time for the Government to legislate to increase the maximum custodial sentence for animal cruelty. I believe that the maximum penalty should be increased to five years.”