Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the introduction of legislative proposals to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences to five years imprisonment.

On 30 September the Secretary of State announced that the Government would increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences from six months’ imprisonment to five years’ imprisonment.

This announcement made clear the government will publish draft legislation for consultation around the turn of the year.