Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge debates involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the 2019 Parliament

Fur: Import and Sale

Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge Excerpts
Monday 22nd April 2024

(2 weeks, 6 days ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Douglas-Miller Portrait Lord Douglas-Miller (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank my noble friend for her question. Between 2017 and 2019, the UK imported around £61 million-worth of fur or fur-based products and we exported around £35 million of fur and fur-based goods. The majority of these were for apparel and clothing. In the period since then—the latest report was in 2023—the volume and the numbers have exactly halved.

Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge Portrait Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

My Lords, the RSPCA has stated that one-quarter of children aged 10 to 18 have witnessed animal abuse videos online. What action are the Government taking to tackle the increase in this content? What education are we providing to children on the importance of animal welfare?

Lord Douglas-Miller Portrait Lord Douglas-Miller (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank my noble friend. I was not aware of those statistics from the RSPCA, but they sound very concerning and it is a matter that the Government will be taking very seriously. As for the content, I will refer my noble friend to the Home Office, because it sounds highly inappropriate for children to be watching that. I will take the issue of education back to my department.