Sir Gavin Williamson is calling for the Government to urgently enact its animal welfare commitments following fears further delays will be detrimental to improvements in this area.
In December, the Government published the Animal Welfare Strategy for England – including proposals to regulate animal sanctuaries, stop irresponsible dog breeding, and end the use of cages for many farmed animals.
However, concern is mounting that the measures are not being enacted quickly enough – leading to fears animals are unnecessarily suffering due to slow policy implementation from Government. Sir Gavin attended an RSPCA event to further demonstrate his commitment to animal welfare.
Harriet Main, Public Affairs Manager at the RSPCA said: “It was brilliant to welcome Sir Gavin and other Parliamentarians to this special event and highlight how we can make many of the welcome ideas in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England into law.
“It is so important that the UK Government builds on their commitments by publishing clear timelines for delivery; and we also believe an annual debate in Parliament would help review progress and keep the public informed.
“Laws are also only valuable if they can be properly enforced – so we are also calling on the UK Government and MP’s to work with local Government to ensure they have the tools they need on the front line.”
Sir Gavin said: “Like many of residents in Staffordshire, I care deeply about animal welfare and it is vital we use all the legislative tools at our disposal to ensure standards remain high and improvements are made where necessary.
“Charities such as the RSPCA undertake amazing work across the country to protect animals and raise awareness of animal welfare standards that we should all adhere to.
“I am urging the Government to prioritise animal welfare legislation so animals do not suffer any further due to gaps in policy.”
