Many constituents have contacted about the important issue of breeding cages for pheasants and partridges. The conditions in which these animals are kept is inhumane. The Animal Welfare Act states that it is an offence if a person fails to ensure that the needs of an animal are met to an extent required by good practice. These needs include the need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and a suitable environment. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ guide to breeding animals states that barren cages for breeding pheasants should not be used. The government needs to ensure that all breeders in the UK conform to these regulations.

The last Labour Government achieved much to end the cruel and unnecessary suffering of animals: the banning of hunting with dogs, securing an end to cosmetic testing on animals, banning fur farming and introducing the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The current Conservative Government must do more to enforce policies that were implemented to improve animal welfare standards, and Labour will continue to hold them to account on this.