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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of recent reports suggesting animal welfare breaches at dairy farms supplying Arla Foods.

The Government remains firmly committed to maintaining high animal welfare standards across the livestock sector. Farm animals are protected by robust animal health and welfare legislation, and we keep the effectiveness of animal welfare inspection, monitoring and enforcement arrangements under review.

Any potential breaches of animal health and welfare legislation are taken seriously. Defra's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigates allegations of non-compliance, undertakes on-farm inspections, monitors compliance with welfare legislation and where necessary, will co-ordinate with enforcement bodies such as local authorities.