I strongly agree that animals are sentient beings, and as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Environment, I firmly believe that UK legislation should provide sufficient protections for all of our animals.
I therefore welcome the Government’s commitment to protecting our environment and wildlife. As it stands, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently conducting a thorough review on how animal sentience legislation can be properly integrated with long-term policy agendas, building on the UK’s strong record of improving animal welfare both at home and abroad.
As you note, our departure from the EU provides us with an opportunity to go further, and I will be urging the Government to pursue this agenda. Consultations will soon be launched on the conditions of animal transportation, the prohibition of pet primates, the extension of microchipping to cats and even stricter controls on the trade in trophy hunting. From my discussions with Ministers, I am confident that considerable progress is being made to bring crucial legislation forward to protect our animals and environment, which I would be pleased to support.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me on a subject matter which I know is important and close to the hearts of many of my constituents.