On Thursday 23 September, Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, spoke at Business Questions and called for a debate on ending cruelty to animals.

World Animal Day is on 4 October this year and it is a chance for us all to celebrate the improvements we have made in animal welfare, but we must also acknowledge that there is still work to be done. Sir David has constantly campaigned for improvements to animal welfare throughout his Parliamentary career and has been involved in legislative changes to laws on animal rights.

Sir David asked:

Will my right hon. Friend find time for a debate on the subject of World Animal Day? Unfortunately it falls on 4 October during the recess, but if we have a later debate it will give the House an opportunity to talk about animal welfare generally, cruelty to animals and the welfare of farmyard animals, which my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) so ably mentioned yesterday?