Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 Answer of 12 July 2023 to Question 192201 on Dogs: Smuggling, what actions points her Department has recorded in the context of her Department's discussion with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) third-party stakeholders on policy formation to tackle puppy smuggling.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about a wide range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
The Department continues to engage with third party stakeholders on the issue of tackling puppy smuggling to gather views on this subject as part of routine engagement.
The Government is committed to delivering its manifesto commitment to crack down on puppy smuggling when parliamentary time allows.
Found: Kingdom , and to give effect to the Government’s manifesto commitment to “crack down on the illegal smuggling
Found: Kingdom , and to give effect to the Government’s manifesto commitment to “crack down on the illegal smuggling
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the illegal smuggling of cats and kittens into the UK.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.
We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. The Animal and Plant Health Agency works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.
We are aware that Selaine Saxby MP has introduced a Private Members’ Bill on restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets. In accordance with Parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban cat and kitten smuggling.
Answered by Mark Spencer
As outlined in our 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the Government has an ambitious agenda for animal welfare and conservation reforms, which we are taking forward during this Parliamentary session. We will continue to introduce and support legislative and non-legislative reforms where possible.
We are aware that Selaine Saxby MP has introduced a Private Members’ Bill on restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets. In accordance with Parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.
Jan. 25 2024
Source Page: Anti-drone no fly zones to combat prison smugglingFound: Anti-drone no fly zones to combat prison smuggling
Mentions:
1: Christopher Chope (Con - Christchurch) 10% of the 9.5 million dogs in this country are not microchipped. - Speech Link
2: Anna Firth (Con - Southend West) It would also exclude certain working dogs, such as police and Army dogs, that do not have to be microchipped - Speech Link
3: Lisa Cameron (Con - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) valuable, but because the fate of some of the dogs was heinous. - Speech Link
4: Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley) In the UK, around 90% of dogs have been microchipped. - Speech Link
5: Peter Gibson (Con - Darlington) regularly contains correspondence from constituents who have concerns about animal welfare, be it puppy smuggling - Speech Link
Correspondence Mar. 26 2024
Committee: Justice Committee (Department: Ministry of Justice)Found: Our approach to referrals/prosecutions of those caught smuggling drugs into prisons The MoJ is committed
May. 20 2024
Source Page: Export of live animals bannedFound: The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill – also supported by government – which will
Mentions:
1: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) I would imagine that most pet owners would be horrified at the concept of keeping their dogs and cats - Speech Link
2: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con - Life peer) I chaired the EFRA Committee in the other place, we took a lot of evidence on the import of illegal dogs - Speech Link
3: Lord Hope of Craighead (XB - Life peer) It is quite a serious issue, as we have seen with XL bully dogs. - Speech Link