Poultry: Animal Housing
(asked on 13th May 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce legislation to ban the keeping of laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
Answered by
Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare Strategy (see attached) states that ending the use of cages is a key priority for this Government. A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. This consultation sought views on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages. This Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.