Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) 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 Angela Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 12 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pigs: Animal Housing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers transitioning away from pig farrowing crates.

Answer: Ending the use of farrowing crates is a key priority for this government, as set out in the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy. The Department is therefore committed to working closely with the industry to explore how to transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems: either flexible farrowing where the sow is confined for the crucial few days around farrowing, or free farrowing where there is no confinement during farrowing or lactation and consult on the transition.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 102528
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Animal welfare strategy for England
Monday, 22 December 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects: Animal housing Pigs
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk