Thank you for writing to me concerning the use of cages for farmed animals.
As you know, animal welfare is devolved to the Welsh Government, with the welfare of all animals entrenched in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any animal.
It should be noted that my Welsh Conservative colleagues and I were in favour of the licensing of humane cable restraints during scrutiny of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, as we recognise the immense cost-effective value they bring as both pest control for Wales’ rural communities and as a tool of wildlife conservation. We were therefore disappointed with the Welsh Government’s reluctance to listen to the genuine concerns of rural communities.
Regarding the use of cages for farmed animals, I am encouraged to see that the market is actively driving the move away from using cages for laying hen production, for example, with the proportion of eggs from caged hens has steadily decreased in the UK from 47% of total throughput in Q4 of 2017 to just 21% in Q1 of 2023. In many instances, instances of profound abuse concerning farmed animals in cages are already in breach of standing legislation in both Wales and the UK-wide level, which is why I am encouraged by the UK Government’s Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, which introduced one of the toughest sanctions in Europe.
I thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards,
