Great News! The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill has come one step closer to becoming enshrined in UK law. The Committee Stage took place in the House of Commons on 10 February and it passed to the Report Stage.
The Better Deal for Animals coalition – a group of over 50 animal protection organisations support the Bill, which includes the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation.
Conservative Animal welfare Foundation sent a briefing to the Public Bill Committee to support the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. This was raised during the Committee Stage by Kerry McCarthy MP to the Minister Jo Churchill.
“The written evidence submitted by the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation asks about membership of the committee and notes
“the importance of using a wide range of leading animal sentience experts”.
It also wants affiliations to, and past involvement with, non-governmental organisations to be made transparent, and states that previous involvement with NGOs should not be a barrier to membership. Does the Minister accept all the recommendations from the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation?
The bill received cross-party backing, and MPs mentioned their support for the Bill:
“I welcome the Bill and am very proud to be sitting on this Public Bill Committee. The Bill is proportionate, timely and targeted. It is important because the public believes passionately in animal welfare.
Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation looks forward to the swift passing of the Bill to enshrine animal sentience in UK law. Read the transcript of the debate here.