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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to reduce the occurrence of animal abuse in the UK.

This Government is committed to animal welfare and the provision of tougher sentencing to deter acts of animal cruelty. The Government supports increasing the maximum custodial sentences for animal cruelty offences from six months to five years. This will enable courts to take a firmer approach to cases such as dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, or gross neglect of farm animals. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons by Chris Loder MP on 5 February and Committee stage took place on 3 February. Report stage and third reading of the Bill have now been scheduled for Friday 12 March. The Government will continue to support the Bill as it makes its way through Parliament.

A new maximum penalty of five years is in line with campaigns by key stakeholders such as Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA. This is a positive step forward in improving animal welfare and will act as a serious deterrent against cruelty and neglect. Northern Ireland has already set the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences at five years' imprisonment, as has the Scottish Government through its Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act. The Welsh Government has confirmed that the new maximum penalty we are proposing should apply in Wales.

The increase to five years' imprisonment will provide one of the toughest sanctions in Europe, strengthening the UK's position as a global leader on animal welfare.