Martyn Jones

Labour Party | Clwyd South

Martyn Jones MP Stands By Animal Welfare

Martyn Jones MP for Clwyd South says significant improvements in animal welfare are to come as the Government has accepted fifty-three recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC).

The Government has published its final response to the FAWC report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals at Slaughter or Killing.  The fifty-three accepted recommendations will improve the welfare of animals in Britain.

“A great number of animal welfare issues have been addressed since 1997 and here is another that exemplifies our interest and concern,” says Mr. Jones.

The accepted recommendations of the FAWC are among numerous other actions the Government has taken to deliver policy in support of animal welfare.  Along with accepting some of the FAWC’s recommendations, the Government has issued a draft Animal Welfare Bill that proposes to double the present  maximum jail sentence for cruelty and substantially increase the maximum £5,000 to £20,000, to strengthen existing offences prohibiting betting on and advertising animal fighting, as well as to improve standards at pet shops, riding schools, and circuses.

Mr. Jones emphasizes his commitment to the promotion of animal welfare and points out, “under this Government the UK has led the way in Europe in improving the welfare of animals, particularly animals in transport, and we are pleased with the decrease of live sheep exports from 15% in 1999 to under 3% in 2003.

The Government’s success in animal welfare includes an increased penalty for wildlife trade crime from 3 to 5 years, the ban on testing of cosmetics and toiletry products and ingredients, and alcohol and tobacco products, on animals, as well as the most recent ban on hunting with hounds.