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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have undertaken any studies of the impact on pet animal welfare of brachycephaly; and if not, whether they intend to do so.

While the Government has not carried out any such studies, as part of our review of the Animal Establishments Licensing Schemes, we are looking into the wider issue of genetic defects in dog breeding and whether steps can be taken to reduce the number of dogs being born with such defects.