MP ballot offers ‘rescue mission’ chance for binned animal welfare policies

The UK Government has abandoned 13 policy pledges for animals in recent years

Members of Parliament across the North West of England have an opportunity to deliver a “rescue mission” for animal welfare this Thursday - according to the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity hopes local MPs will use a Private Members’ Bill ballot to revive 13 animal welfare policy pledges that have been dropped, abandoned or watered down by the UK Government in recent years.

Shocking analysis by the RSPCA has revealed the host of policies which the UK Government had previously promised to improve the lives of animals - only for these to be consigned to the Whitehall scrapheap.

It comes as the charity’s Animal Kindness Index highlights that more than eight out of ten people (83%) want to see governments protect animals through legislation.

Last week’s King’s Speech confirmed the return of two of these pledges - including plans to ban the live export of animals, and moves to end landlords imposing a blanket ban on pet ownership in the private rented sector.

However, this still leaves 13 policy areas - including some manifesto commitments - whereby the UK Government had pledged to act, but has subsequently failed to do so.

On Thursday, a draw for a ballot of Private Members’ Bills will take place - and the 20 successful MPs will have the chance to bring forward their own proposals for laws, including those which can have a positive impact for pets, wildlife and farm animals.

David Bowles, RSPCA head of public affairs, said: “Thursday’s ballot is a potentially huge day for animal welfare.

“While last week’s announcement on live exports was a big step forward from the UK Government, there are still 13 other policy areas where the UK Government has backslid, U-turned or dropped policy commitments for animals.

“From livestock worrying, and shock collars; to puppy smuggling and ending the import of fur from abroad, we need to see these policies revived.

“In the absence of any further UK Government action, Members of Parliament could offer a rescue mission for animals by proposing one of these 13 pledges as backbench legislation if they’re picked from the ballot draw this week.”

The 13 broken pledges for animal welfare:

• Caged farm animals - The UK Government had promised to consult on banning farm animals being kept in cages in England. Currently, around 10 million hens live in cages in the UK which gives them on average less usable space than an A4 piece of paper. Around 60% of UK sows (~205,680 sows) are placed in farrowing crates before they give birth and remain for the entire duration of nursing their piglets. A sow will give birth to 2- 3 litters a year, meaning she will spend on average 10-15 weeks a year in a farrowing crate. These metal crates are so small that the sows can’t even turn around.

• Livestock worrying - this was also part of the dismantled Kept Animals Bill, and would have given police extra powers to provide protection to livestock against dog control and bite incidents which can result in serious injuries and even death.

• Puppy smuggling - the Bill was also set to increase the age of imported puppies to six months, afford greater protection around the import of pregnant dogs and limit the number of dogs an individual or vehicle can bring into the UK, in an effort to crackdown on the illegal and cruel puppy trade. Mums and puppies are still forced to travel long distances and sold to unsuspecting members of the public who often have to deal with poorly puppies and dogs with behavioural issues.

• Imports of fur from abroad - fur farming has been banned in the UK for more than 20 years but sadly fur can still be imported from countries where animals raised for their fur often live in cramped, barren cages – with little ability to exhibit natural behaviours - and some are killed in horrific and inhumane ways. An RSPCA survey showed that 95% of the public would never wear real fur, but many items for sale in the UK are either incorrectly labelled or not labelled at all and without a ban on imports this is set to continue.

• Sale and import of foie gras - this product can only be made through a process that is very cruel to ducks and geese. Production of foie gras has never occurred in the UK and was essentially banned as long ago as 1968, but despite pledging to ban imports of foie gras, this has now been allowed to continue.

• Trade negotiations with high welfare standards - the UK Government vowed to safeguard high animal welfare standards in free trade agreements following Brexit. However, it has now signed three Free Trade Agreements (Australia, New Zealand, Trans Pacific) none of which included measures to ensure imports met the UK’s industry and animal welfare standards.

• Food labelling consultation - plans for a consultation into mandatory welfare labelling on animal products was recently abandoned. Currently, consumers cannot make an informed choice because there is no clear labelling on the products they buy to show how the animal has been reared and cared for. This comes despite four out of five people thinking having some knowledge about the way an animal has been cared for is important when making a purchase.

• Pet theft - following a recommendation from the Pet Theft Task Force, the UK Government added pet abduction to the Kept Animals Bill which would have made pet theft a specific offence. Pet theft is devastating for owners who understandably see their pet as one of the family but currently the law treats the theft of a pet the same as the theft of a mobile phone.

• Banning the use of shock collars - following a consultation showing overwhelming support for a ban on shock collars in England the Government introduced legislation in April to achieve this.  Whilst it was quickly approved by the House of Lords it has stalled and has yet to be introduced to the Commons. Although we are yet to see an actual backtrack we’re concerned that this too could be abandoned, despite Wales having a ban since 2010. 

• Call for evidence on snares - the UK Government committed to launch a call for evidence on the use of snares in England but this was sadly dropped. The RSPCA is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares and any traps which cause suffering to an animal - and these devices were recently banned by the Welsh Government. Foxes are often the target of such traps, but also other animals such as badgers and domestic cats can be potential victims. 

• Review of slaughter legislation - the Government committed to reviewing the slaughter legislation but no progress has occurred on this despite the Government agreeing that lobsters and crabs are sentient animals and need to have protection when being killed and that fish need specific regulations on slaughter.

• Importation of dogs with cropped ears - despite being illegal, more than 1,100 dogs are reported to have undergone this cruel and unnecessary procedure in the last three years. Many also take advantage of the loophole as it is not illegal to import dogs with cropped ears despite these dogs suffering mutilations, often by untrained individuals without pain relief. The law would also have seen a ban on importing declawed cats - also illegal to carry out in the UK.

• Consultation on game birds - the Government promised a consultation on updating the standards on keeping game birds but no progress has occurred whatsoever.

The successful MPs will introduce their chosen bills on 6 December. Last year, 16 ballot bills ultimately received Royal Assent - including one which banned the import and export of shark fins.

More information on the RSPCA’s campaigning for animal welfare can be found online.