Thank you for contacting me about animal sentience.
I firmly believe that animals are sentient beings who can feel pain and suffering, and this should absolutely be recognised in the law. I am pleased, therefore, that the UK Government has made it clear that this fact will be specifically recognised in UK law after we leave the EU, and has now published draft legislation to this effect.
The UK Government’s draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill was published on December 12th, 2017. It rightly sets out that the UK Government “must have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing government policy”.
At the same time, the law will also increase the sentences available to the courts in the most severe cases of animal cruelty to up to five years imprisonment. Subject to consultation, the UK Government will legislate to deliver both aims. This comes as part of a wider programme of improving the UK’s animal welfare standards as we leave the European Union.
In Scotland, animal welfare is largely a devolved issue, and so responsibility for improving animal welfare standards here rests with the Scottish Government. I hope that the Scottish Government are paying attention to the excellent animal welfare reforms that the UK Government are making, and will work to ensure that Scotland does not get left behind the rest of the United Kingdom on this important issue.