Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence his Department has used to inform any policy or legislation on the use of electric (a) fencing, (b) netting and (c) collars for the control of dogs.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Government has considered evidence from Defra-funded research, the results of a public consultation, and information from other relevant sources to inform its policy on the use of electronic aids for the control of dogs.
Concerns that remote controlled hand-held electronic training devices, or e-collars, can cause long-term harm have been raised by a number of trainers, behaviourists, the animal welfare sector and dog keeping organisations. In light of these concerns, Defra commissioned a research study to assess the welfare of dogs trained with pet training aids, specifically e-collars. The research showed that many users of the hand-held devices were not using them properly in compliance with the manufacturers’ instructions.
As well as being misused to inflict unnecessary harm, there is also concern that e-collars can redirect aggression or generate anxiety-based behaviour in pets, making underlying behavioural and health problems worse.
Following the completion of the research study, Defra ran a public consultation into the use of e-collars for cats and dogs in England. Respondents to the consultation argued that containment systems, or invisible fencing systems, where set up correctly presented less welfare risks to cats and dogs and offered some protection to them from other harms, such as where they escape onto a busy road.
Defra has also monitored the situation in nations who have already taken steps to restrict or prohibit the use of e-collars, including Wales and some European countries. The department has also considered research published by those nations and other respected sources in determining its response.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
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 protect the welfare of decapod crustaceans in the forthcoming Animal (Welfare) Sentience Bill.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
The Animal (Welfare) Sentience Bill applies to vertebrates. It gives the Secretary of State a power to extend the recognition of sentience to particular invertebrates in future
Defra has commissioned an independent review of the available scientific evidence on the sentience of decapod crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, as well as on the sentience of some other invertebrates. Its findings will be published before the Bill reaches Report stage in the House of Lords. We will consider its findings carefully as part of our ongoing work to protect the welfare needs of animals.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) regulating the number of animals that can be slaughtered without being stunned and (b) banning the export of meat from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
We would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.
We have recently concluded a review of the welfare of animals at time of killing legislation and this identifies potential improvements that might be made. We are carefully considering the issues raised in the review.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of the staff employed by his Department are apprentices.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1% of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3% by March 2021.
Core Defra has achieved 1% of the total staff employed within the department. A further 57 apprentices are currently being enrolled and we expect these to be fully enrolled by 31/03/21.
This target is a percentage of the total workforce so the percentage attained will change in line with workforce fluctuations over time, making it challenging to predict when a department will meet it. The data for 2018/19 can be found here. The data for 2019/20 can be found here.
Defra has an apprenticeship strategy which has the following priorities:
Defra is launching three recruitment campaigns in National Apprenticeship Week (8–14 February) for the following apprenticeships: Project Management Level 4; Policy Officer Level 4; Business Administration Level 3.
Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3% target.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will assess the merits of making pet theft a specific criminal offence in response to the rising number of instances of that crime during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
All reported crimes should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with tough sentences. The theft of a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and the maximum penalty is seven years' imprisonment.
The Government takes the issue of pet theft very seriously and is concerned by suggestions that occurrences are on the rise. We consider that the current offence which relates to cases of pet theft is appropriate.
Sentencing is a matter for the Courts and should take into account the circumstances of each case. When deciding on an appropriate sentence, the Courts may consider aggravating and mitigating factors, in line with sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council. In February 2016 the Sentencing Council updated its guidelines in relation to sentencing for theft offences. The guidelines take account of the emotional distress, and therefore harm, that theft of a pet can have on the victim, and accordingly the guidelines recommend higher penalties for such offences.
If someone causes an animal to suffer in the course of stealing it, they are also liable to prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The existing maximum custodial penalty for causing animal cruelty is 6 months' imprisonment. Legislation is currently before Parliament - the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill - which when passed will increase the maximum penalty to 5 years' imprisonment. This will be the highest penalty for animal cruelty in Europe. The Government will support this Bill as it makes its way through Parliament.
As I said at the recent Westminster Hall debate on pet theft, we continue to keep the situation under review and are keen to explore ways to address pet theft that will be effective and have a meaningful impact. That includes working with interested parties, including the police and animal welfare organisations to try and get messages across to pet owners to help them keep their pets safe.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent on promotion on Twitter in each month since January 2019; and which Twitter accounts had tweets promoted.
Answered by George Eustice
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not spent any money on promotion on twitter from January 2019 to date.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on promoted content on (a) Twitter, (b) Facebook and (c) Instagram in each month since June 2017.
Answered by George Eustice
Digital advertising is a cost effective way for the Government to recruit nurses, promote blood donations, find out about pensions and all the other important information the public needs to be aware of.
Defra has spent £28,805.00 on promoted activity with these platforms since June 2017 through media buying agencies Carat. Ad hoc spend may not be included in this amount.