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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to launch the consultation on the licensing and regulation of animal rescues and sanctuaries in England; and what steps the Department is taking to progress legislation establishing a regulatory framework for such organisations.

This Government committed in the Animal Welfare Strategy to consult on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations and is working to bring this forward. The consultation will be published in due course and will seek views from all those with an interest in this important sector.