Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) reviewing and (b) strengthening penalties for cruelty against wildlife.

The commitment to review and look to strengthen penalties for cruelty against wildlife - so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for animal welfare offences against pets and livestock - was made in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025. The strategy notes the importance of working closely with stakeholders and Defra will engage with partners inside and outside of Government to discuss next steps on delivering the strategy.