Written question asked by Alex Mayer (Labour) on Friday, 2 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Thursday, 8 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Trapping

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how she plans to enforce the ban on snares.

Answer: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation and this included a commitment to bring an end to the use of snare traps in England. This was recently reaffirmed in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy. Defra is considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course. The detail of the enforcement of the ban will depend on the nature of the legislation that is ultimately progressed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 102117
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Animal welfare strategy for England
Monday, 22 December 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects: Regulation Trapping
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk