Signed yesterday . . . . in addition to contacting my local MP whose name appeared on the list of those who supported the EU Withdrawal Bill.
This is his, quite lengthy response which I received within a few hours of making contact:
" Dear Mandy,
I am pleased to confirm that I did not vote to suggest that animals are not sentient beings, and as a proud dog owner, that is not my belief. As we have discussed in the past, I take issues of animal welfare extremely seriously. Earlier this year I led a Westminster Hall debate on the UK ivory trade, due to the concerns that I have for the welfare of elephants, and that extends to all animals.
My view was that the specific amendment which was proposed for the EU Withdrawal Bill was not in the best interests of the UK, however I can assure you that that the Government will continue to work to protect existing rights.
Indeed, the speech which Caroline Lucas made in Parliament, who herself proposed the amendment, was very honest about the limited practical impact which the amendment would actually have had. If you would like to read the House of Commons debate in full, it can be found at the following link;
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-11-15/debates/7A700C0E-8BA2-4EEC-B53D-997028C06900/EuropeanUnion(Withdrawal)Bill Furthermore, the sentience of animals, and measures against animal suffering, are enshrined in UK law, as per the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, the details of which can be found here;
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/pdfs/ukpga_20060045_en.pdfThe UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and I have been personally assured by Ministerial colleagues that they intend it to remain world-leading in the future. As a minimum this means retaining our existing standards of animal welfare once we have left the EU.
In the past months the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have announced multiple policies to improve animal welfare:
· Banning the trade of Ivory in the UK;
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-for-ivory-ban· Making CCTV in slaughterhouses mandatory;
www.gov.uk/government/news/cctv-to-be-introduced-in-all-slaughterhouses-in-england-in-2018· Extending the maximum prison sentence for people convicted of animal cruelty;
www.gov.uk/government/news/sentences-for-animal-cruelty-to-increase-tenfold-to-five-years· Preventing the use of Microbeads in cosmetic products, which are harmful to sea life;
www.gov.uk/government/news/microbead-ban-announced-to-protect-sealife· Banning the use of pesticides in farming which are harmful to bees;
www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-secretary-backs-further-restrictions-on-neonicotinoid-pesticides The EU (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the existing body of direct EU animal welfare laws to become UK laws. Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) created a qualified obligation on the EU and Member States "to have full regard to the welfare of animals [as they are sentient beings]" when formulating and implementing EU law. Minsters will therefore consider how the 'animal sentience' principle of Article 13 might be explicitly reflected in the UK when we leave the EU.
I therefore believe that existing UK legislation, which provides necessary and appropriate protection for animals in this country, will not be weakened when we leave the EU.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me, and as always, if there is ever anything I can do to help as your local MP, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours sincerely "
