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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to convene a cross-sectoral task force to develop a pathway to crate-free farrowing for the pig industry.

The use of farrowing crates and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which the Department is currently considering very carefully. The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway supports farmers to improve animal health and welfare through a series of co-designed incentives, and the Department will continue to work across all relevant sectors to encourage improvements in pig welfare.