Rebecca Harris is pleased to share that the Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Bill  has successfully passed through the House of Commons and has now been sent to the House of Lords for approval before it becomes law.

In her role as a Whip, Rebecca helped guide the Bill banning live animal exports through its committee stages in the House of Commons. She was also in the chamber on Monday  to vote in favour of the Bill.

The landmark Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will prohibit the export of cattle, sheep, pigs and horse for slaughter and fattening from Britain. This Bill demonstrates this Government’s commitment to manifesto promises and animal welfare. It would not have been possible if we had stayed in the EU and we will be the first European country to end the practice.

Mark Spencer, Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries commented in the Commons on Monday that:

“This Bill is genuinely a Brexit benefit: we are able to take control of our ports within GB and stop the live export of animals for slaughter or for fattening.”

Animal welfare has always been an important part of Rebecca's campaigns. She supported the Government's Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act (increased penalty for animal cruelty) and Animals (Penalty Notices) Act (increased penalty for animal negligence) and the Ivory Act (the sale of any age ivory banned). Rebecca has also previously supported this Government’s introduction of mandatory microchipping in cats, CCTV in slaughterhouses for increased accountability and the ban on third party puppy and kitten sales. This Government has consistently considered animal welfare as a priority in legislation.