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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress her Department has made towards launching the proposed consultation on the licensing of animal rescue and sanctuary organisations; and what the expected timeframe is for that consultation.

This Government committed in the Animal Welfare Strategy to launch a consultation on the potential licensing of domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This will seek views from all those with an interest in this important sector. This Government is already engaging with stakeholders to inform future rescue and rehoming policy and the consultation will follow in due course.