London, 7th November 2023
Today (Tuesday 7th November) Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the inclusion of an Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill in the King’s Speech delivered by HM King Charles III to mark the opening of Parliament today. The Speech contained a comprehensive overview of the Government’s priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary Session.
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will ban the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, stopping unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury caused by exporting live animals.
The commitment to deliver a Live Exports Bill honours a popular Conservative Party Manifesto commitment. Historically the UK has exported large numbers of sheep and calves abroad to France and as far afield as Spain. Overcrowding means that some cannot lie down at all, while those who do may be injured or trampled to death. They can be in transit for days, suffering extremes of temperature and often without sufficient food, water or rest.
It comes following the discontinuation of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill in May, following which the Government pledged to deliver its provisions through alternative legislative vehicles.
Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation would like to thank the Secretary of State for Defra Dr Thérèse Coffey MP and the Defra team for their support for this critical measure which will spare many animals the suffering they endure on long journeys overseas.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome the Government’s commitment to introduce the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill in the upcoming Parliamentary Session. This critical measure will ensure the cruel live export trade is confined to the history books where it belongs, and spare countless animals the suffering they endure on journeys overseas. We are grateful to Defra and Downing Street for their leadership on this important subject, and look forward to supporting its introduction in due course.”
About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and people’s health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
Media contact: Sophia Stileman (sophia.stileman@conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org)
