Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 3:09 pm on 28 September 2022.
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.