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 his Action Plan for Animal Welfare, when he will be launching a call for evidence on the use of snares.

Snares can cause immense suffering to both target and non-target animals, and it is an issue we are looking at closely as part of our continued drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

Through our Animal Action for Welfare Plan, published in May 2021, we are looking at whether changes need to be made to reflect concerns raised.

The call for evidence on the use of snares will be launched in due course. This is planned to run for 12 weeks and will be launched online. After closing the call for evidence, responses will be analysed, and a summary of responses will be published online.