8. What progress has been made towards restricting the use of cages for farmed animals? OQ58455

Thank you. We have committed to restrict the use of cages for farmed animals. We are working collaboratively with other administrations to examine the use of enriched cages for laying hens, farrowing crates for pigs, and breeding cages for game birds. 

Thank you for that answer, Minister. I'm particularly concerned about the use of cages for the breeding of gaming birds. Partridges normally mate with a partner for life in the wild, but, in commercial breeding cages, they are forced together, sometimes wearing saddles and beak covers to protect from maiming. This practice is cruel and unnecessary, all in the name of sport. In 2021, polling commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports found that 72 per cent of people in Wales opposed the use of cages for breeding game birds. How is the Welsh Government working with the UK and Scottish Governments to examine the evidence around the use of cages for breeding game birds, and what progress has been made regarding this since the publication of the animal welfare plan for Wales this year? Thank you.

Thank you. So, we are working with other administrations—you mentioned the UK and Scottish Governments—to look at how and where cages are used, alongside the welfare impacts of existing and whether there are alternative systems also. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2007 set down detailed conditions in which farmed animals must be kept, and we also have a code of practice for the welfare of game birds reared for sporting purposes. That provides practical guidance, explaining what a person needs to do to meet the standards of care that the law absolutely requires. The use of management devices or practices that do not allow birds to fully express their range of normal behaviours should not be considered as routine and keepers should work towards management systems not requiring such devices. 

We've had a review of our code of practices for the welfare of game birds, but at the moment that's been on hold because we have so much work that we need to examine from the other Governments. So, once we've had a look at the evidence around that, we can look to see if that code of practice needs changing. We wouldn't change it without consultation—because I think that's really important—with our stakeholders.

Minister, as chairman of the cross-party group on shooting and conservation, you'll be aware that I've sent you letters previously around avian influenza and the difficulties that caused for the importation of eggs to hatcheries here in the United Kingdom. Therefore, game shoots in Wales are looking to develop their own breeding programmes so that they're no longer reliant on the import of eggs. Therefore, what work are you doing to ensure that these businesses are aware of the changes that you'll be making, so that they can invest their money wisely?

Thank you. Well, certainly, with avian influenza, we've had a really difficult year. It normally starts about October and by March we see some improvement, but, unfortunately, last week alone I think we had three new cases across the UK. So, we haven't had any break at all. So, you're quite right to raise avian influenza. As I say, we wouldn't do anything without consulting with our stakeholders, and obviously they would form part of the stakeholders, but there's a huge amount of evidence that I've asked officials to look at coming from the other devolved administrations and the UK Government.