Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to end the export of live animals for consumption.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the Rt Hon Member for Chipping Barnet on 11 June 2020, PQ UIN 55899.
[questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-06-08/55899]
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made in bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce five-year maximum sentences for acts of animal cruelty in England and Wales.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government is supporting the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill as it makes its way through Parliament. Second Reading of the Bill is scheduled for 23 October. The Bill will increase the maximum custodial penalty for animal cruelty from six months' imprisonment to five years' imprisonment.
The new maximum penalty of five years is in line with campaigns by key stakeholders such as Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA. This is a positive step forward in improving animal welfare and will act as a serious deterrent against cruelty and neglect. Northern Ireland has already set the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences at five years' imprisonment, and the Scottish Government has now passed the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020. The Welsh Government has confirmed that the new maximum penalty being proposed should apply in Wales. The increase to five years' imprisonment will provide one of the toughest sanctions in Europe, strengthening the UK's position as a global leader on animal welfare.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure enforcement of the Live transport: welfare regulations to prevent pregnant dogs in their last 10 per cent of pregnancy from being imported into the UK.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
We operate one of the most rigorous border-checking regimes in Europe. When animals are transported for a commercial purpose, their transportation must comply fully with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare. The current EU Regulation which provides protection for animals during transport sets out those animals which are not considered fit for transport, and this includes those that are in the last 10% of gestation.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) takes an intelligence-led approach at the border aimed at disrupting the illegal trade in dogs. As part of this activity APHA identifies and acts to safeguard the welfare of animals where transport is non-compliant with the requirements of the law.
During 2020, eight dogs were detained by APHA as being in the last 10% of gestation. An additional 11 pregnant bitches not in their last 10% were also detained.
APHA continues to work closely with its local authority enforcement partners to support enforcement action and prosecution of those involved in this trade.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of dogs in the last 10 per cent of their pregnancy that have been illegally brought into the UK in 2020.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) only holds records of pregnant dogs where other non-compliances were found at time of interception on entry to Great Britain. APHA does not record details of compliant animals which were pregnant at time of interception.
According to APHA records, eight dogs were seized in 2020 under Council Regulation (EC) no 1/2005, Annex I, FITNESS FOR TRANSPORT, Chapter I, 2(c) ‘pregnant females for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already passed’. An additional 11 pregnant bitches not in their last 10% were seized in 2020.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the rate of pregnant dogs illegally brought into the UK and seized by the Animal and Plant Health Agency since 2019.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
According to Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) records, a total of 42 pregnant dogs have been seized since 2019; 23 dogs were seized in 2019 and a further 19 have been seized to date in 2020.
The APHA only holds records of pregnant dogs that were intercepted on entry to Great Britain via Dover Port if there are other non-compliances found at time of interception.
Defra takes the issue of puppy smuggling and other illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering for the animals affected and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk. We have legislation in place to ensure those guilty of offences are duly punished.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has issued sector specific guidance for the operation of animal rescue shelters and adoption services as a result of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government has not issued any specific guidance in this area, but guidance has been published by the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) which advises the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and Defra Ministers. The CFSG guidance provides animal rescue and rehoming centres with advice about how to work during the Covid-19 crisis and in the context of Government restrictions in respect of social distancing and essential travel and was developed in consultation with Defra. A copy of the CFSG guidance can be found here on their website:
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) how much has been paid to officials of her Department as an additional incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments, (b) how much has been offered to any individual staff member for a one-off occurrence, (c) how many staff received such incentivised additional payments, (d) from which budgets such payments were made and (e) at which Ministerial or official level the business cases or payment approval for such payments was made in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2016 to date.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra does not pay any additional incentives to staff for working overtime on top of the normal departmental overtime payments.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with water companies to produce a set of procedures for those involved in the process of extending their properties.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Water company representatives are currently working with the building industry to produce a code of practice on how they handle requests about extensions to houses situated on land which may contain a sewer. A code should introduce greater transparency about the processes involved, and associated costs.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with water companies to produce cost guidelines for those involved in the process of extending their properties.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
Water company representatives are currently working with the building industry to produce a code of practice on how they handle requests about extensions to houses situated on land which may contain a sewer. A code should introduce greater transparency about the processes involved, and associated costs.