I am a strong believer in high standards of animal welfare. One of the campaigns I am most proud of in my time as Cheltenham's MP was working alongside the vet Marc Abraham to successfully bring an end to cruel puppy farming. Marc was kind enough to say publicly that my support for the campaign was “of phenomenal use”. I am delighted too to have helped introduce the ban on ivory imports, as well as increasing the maximum sentence for animal cruelty.
As you know, fur farming has been banned in England and Wales since 2000, and since 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As well as this, there are already restrictions on some skin and fur products which may never be legally imported into the UK. These include fur and products from cats and dogs, and seal skins and products from commercial hunts.
The UK has established controls on fur from endangered species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and this country does not allow imports of fur from wild animals caught using methods which are non-compliant with international humane trapping standards.
In short, we have some of the highest welfare standards in the world, and that is both a source of pride and a clear reflection of British attitudes of compassion towards animals.
In terms of eradicating imports completely, I am pleased that, as you have referenced, a call for evidence has now been carried out, alongside the Scottish and Welsh governments, to seek views from the public and businesses surrounding animal welfare as well as the social and economic impacts associated with the fur trade, both at home and abroad. I understand that the views, data and case studies received will be vital to helping to inform future government policy in this area, including by better understanding the trade both at home and abroad, and I look forward to reading the results in due course. You’ll be able to find the outcome of the consultation here, once it has been analysed.
In future, the UK will also be able to press for high standards through international forums such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, CITES and others. This means we can retake our seat on these bodies and be able effectively to promote and support improved animal welfare standards internationally. Ultimately, this is an opportunity to strengthen UK legislation on animal welfare, and my Ministerial colleagues have informed me that they will be considering the further steps the Government could take on fur sales.
In common with many MPs, I do not sign EDMs as they incur significant expense for the taxpayer and they're not an effective means of delivering political change in my experience. I am also not permitted to as a minister. This is also the case with taking part in debates, such as the one on 14 September. However, I will continue to raise the issues outlined in this campaign privately with my ministerial colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs so that they are aware of the strength of feeling on this.