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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Statement on 25 May 2023, what the Government’s timeline and legislative process is for bringing forward measures relating to (a) pet smuggling and (b) pet abduction; and if she will take steps to ensure cats and kittens are included in those proposals.

We will be taking these measures forward individually during the remainder of this Parliament. Parliamentary business will be announced in the usual way.

We have listened carefully to views expressed about extending both measures to cats and we are currently considering this further.