I believe that all animals deserve protection, whether they are on a farm, at home as a pet, in the wild, or in the sea. Animals should not suffer unnecessary pain and degradation and we must continue to drive up standards and practice in line with the most recent advances and understanding.

Strengthening our animal welfare laws is one of the Opposition’s top priorities, and my Opposition Colleagues and I have long opposed the use of cages in farming. Indeed, we have taken action in Parliament to try to ban their use.

For example, in February 2020, the Opposition voted to include in the Agriculture Bill a phased ban of pig farrowing stalls, and for financial support to be made available to farmers with the capital costs of this process and for those who take interim measures to improve the conditions of farrowing sows. Disappointingly, this was voted down by Government MPs.

I have also written to Ministers to advocate for the end of caging animals, such as gamebirds like pheasants, grouse, and partridge. However, the Government has refused to move against cages, despite promising to improve animal welfare standards post-Brexit.

I also supported the Hen Caging (Prohibition) Bill last year, however, because it was a Private Members’ Bill without any support from the Government, it was unable to progress through Parliament before time ran out.

Over and over again, for years, my Opposition Colleagues and I have been pressing the Government to end the use of cages for hens, and the use of farrowing crates for pigs, but to no avail.

During a Westminster Hall debate in June last year, Victoria Prentis, the then Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food, said that the Government is not yet ready to launch its consultations on the use of cages for hens and pigs.

On 17 March 2023, Mark Spencer, the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, responded to a question from one of my Opposition Colleagues by saying:

“The Government is committed to exploring the use of cages. However, no formal timelines for consultations have been confirmed as yet.”

It is deeply disappointing that the Government is not moving forward on this issue, however, I can assure you that my Opposition Colleagues and I will continue to press Ministers to act.