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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 15 January 2020, Official Report, column, 1020, what the timeframe is for bringing forward legislative proposals to reduce the rate of smuggling of puppies and dogs; and what provisions she plans to include in those proposals.

The Government takes the welfare of all animals seriously, and that is why we have committed to cracking down on puppy smuggling. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to the smuggled dogs and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk.