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Farms: Animal Welfare

Asked by Mr Angus MacDonaldLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 2 September 2025UIN 70273

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with devolved Administrations on the consistency of on-farm animal welfare inspections across the United Kingdom.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nations’ Ministers.

However, Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary such as animal welfare inspections.

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