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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State of 30 March 2017, Official Report, column 480-2, on animal welfare, whether she plans to strengthen legislation on animal cruelty.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) provides clear offences relating to animal cruelty. One strength of the 2006 Act is that anyone can take out a prosecution. This has been a powerful tool in promoting animal welfare. In 2015, 936 people were sentenced for animal cruelty offences under the 2006 Act, of which 91 were given an immediate custodial sentence.