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Poultry: Animal Housing

Asked by Ruth JonesLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 23 June 2026UIN 10708

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to support the transition away from enriched cages. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, which closed to final applications on 28 April 2026, provides funding contributions towards infrastructure projects for commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those moving from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. Additionally, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its fourth and final round on 12 May this year, offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology to support higher welfare production. We continue to work with industry and wider stakeholders on how the Pathway can encourage cage free systems of farming.

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