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 protect the welfare of decapod crustaceans in the forthcoming Animal (Welfare) Sentience Bill.

The Animal (Welfare) Sentience Bill applies to vertebrates. It gives the Secretary of State a power to extend the recognition of sentience to particular invertebrates in future

Defra has commissioned an independent review of the available scientific evidence on the sentience of decapod crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, as well as on the sentience of some other invertebrates. Its findings will be published before the Bill reaches Report stage in the House of Lords. We will consider its findings carefully as part of our ongoing work to protect the welfare needs of animals.