Welfare of Domestic Animals Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
Main Page: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Welfare of Domestic Animals
Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Excerpts(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD)
My Lords, the legislation on electric shock collars was written, scrutinised and approved by this House in June 2023. It lapsed on a technicality, not due to any flaw. Defra’s own research concluded that these devices cause fear and harm, offering no welfare-compatible training benefit. The Government can deliver a swift animal welfare win by immediately relaying this instrument. Will the Minister undertake to do this, instead of waiting?
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
As I said, when I came into my role as Animal Welfare Minister, I asked for a list of animal welfare legislation and consultations, and all sorts of other things that had been undertaken by the previous Government. The list was huge, so my job was to look at where I felt we could make the best improvements for animal welfare in this country. That is why I commissioned an animal welfare strategy, which looks at what makes the biggest difference to animal welfare. If the noble Baroness looks out for that strategy, which will be published very soon, she might find many things that she will want to support.