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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to phase out the use of farrowing crates for sows that are pregnant.

We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and a strong track record for raising the bar when it comes to welfare measures, such as banning battery cages for laying hens, sow stalls and veal crates - and introducing CCTV in all slaughterhouses in England.

We want to continue to build on this, and are currently examining the evidence around the use of cages for farm animals. Defra’s new pig welfare code of practice, which came into force in March last year, states that the aim is for farrowing crates to no longer be necessary and for any new system to protect the welfare of the sow, as well as her piglets.