Written questions by Jardine.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands on marine mammals in UK waters.

We remain committed to meeting our international obligations and continue to have concerns about the welfare and sustainability of these hunts. In December 2025 we published the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy with devolved governments. This includes species hunted in the Faroe Islands and aims to improve the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters. UK ministers and officials consistently call for an end to cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands. As Chair of the International Whaling Commission’s Conservation Committee and Intersessional Working Group on Welfare, the UK promotes stronger protection and improved welfare for small cetaceans.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the consultation on a ban on caged hens.

A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's timetable is for publishing a new animal welfare strategy.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle biodiversity loss.

Britain’s nature is in crisis. Nearly half of our bird species and a quarter of our mammal species are at risk of national extinction. Biodiversity has been declining at an unprecedented rate since 1970. That is why this Government has wasted no time in announcing a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan, to be completed by the end of the year, to make sure it is fit for purpose. We will introduce a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment, delivering on our legally binding target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030.