At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 8th February 2017, Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers spoke about how, as we take back control over our own laws, Brexit offers a key opportunity to strengthen our animal welfare legislation:
Theresa Villiers, Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet: As we prepare in this House to take back control over our laws on agriculture, will the Prime Minister agree to use Brexit as an opportunity to strengthen, not weaken, the rules that safeguard the welfare of animals?
Theresa May, The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend raises an important point that is, I know, of concern to many people in the House and outside. We should be proud that in the UK we have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world—indeed, one of the highest scores for animal protection in the world. Leaving the EU will not change that. I can assure her that we are committed to maintaining and, where possible, improving standards of welfare in the UK, while ensuring of course that our industry is not put at a competitive disadvantage.