PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Poultry: Animal Welfare (22 January 2018)
Question Asked
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals on banning the use of caged hens in egg production.
Asked by:
Anna Turley (Labour)
Asked by:
Anna Turley (Labour)
Answer
The conventional ‘battery’ cage for laying hens was banned in 2012. The current enriched ‘colony’ cages provide more space for the hen, a nest area, litter, perches and claw shortening devices. All permitted housing production systems for laying hens have their strengths and weaknesses, or offer some compromise on the different key elements of animal welfare. We have no plans to ban the use of enriched ‘colony’ systems in egg production.
Answered by:
George Eustice (Conservative)
30 January 2018
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