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 Answer of 21 May 2019 to Question 254174, on Animal welfare, if he will establish a database on the number of animal welfare inspectors appointed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Anyone is able to take out a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and it is on this basis that the RSPCA investigate calls and prosecute hundreds of people each year for offences under the Act. Local authorities also have enabling powers under the Act and make decisions on their approach to the Act based on local needs and resource priorities and the arrangements that work best for them working in partnership with others where helpful. We currently are not planning to establish a database of all those who are engaged in inspections and investigations under the Act.