Written question asked by Melanie Ward (Labour) on Monday, 9 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 February 2026. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 12 February 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Pigs and Poultry: Animal Housing
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's proposed timeline is for banning cages in relation to hens and pigs.
- Answer
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The recently published Animal Welfare Strategy sets out that ending the use of cages and crates is a key priority for this Government.
We are currently consulting on a proposed timeline to ban the instalment of new enriched ‘colony’ cages for the keeping of laying hens and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers from 2027 and the use of existing cages from 2032.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy we will be consulting on pig farrowing crates and a proposed timeline for the transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems: either flexible or free farrowing.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 111978
- Session
- 2024-26
- Related items
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Animal welfare strategy for England
Monday, 22 December 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
- Subjects
- Animal housing Poultry Pigs
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2026-03-02 11:23:04 +0000
- URI
- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/commons/2024-26/111978
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