The RSPCA has issued its performance scorecard showing progress on the Action Plan for Animals has been slow.
The charity is now calling for the Government to relaunch its plans to keep its promises and make progress for animal welfare.
Its scorecard of the Action Plan shows only three out of 39 promises have been successfully completed into law with a further one progressing; 16 promised actions have stalled and the remaining 19 have not started or in the case of genetically altered animals gone into reverse.
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “We welcomed the Government’s plan last year as it addressed issues we had been campaigning on for some time and these changes could make a real and lasting difference to animal welfare, but we’re disappointed that one year on and little progress has been made in crucial areas.
“We’re pleased that the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act has been completed along with the Glue Traps Act and we welcome the announcement of subsidy payments for farmers who farm to higher welfare standards but that is where the good news stops. There are 19 important areas that have sadly seen no movement.”
The Queen’s Speech only saw one Bill involving animals, allowing gene editing of farm animals.
Among the 39 key issues in the Action Plan for Animals, the Government pledged to ban the import and sale of dogs with cropped ears, bring in mandatory microchipping for owned cats, raise the minimum age of imported puppies and kittens to six months, phase out enriched cages for laying hens and farrowing cages for pigs, end non-stun slaughter, and finally bring an end to live exports.
Many of these issues are in the Kept Animals Bill, which has been stalled since last October. This was carried over from the last session and the RSPCA is calling on MPs to reintroduce it as soon as possible so it can complete all its legislative stages before summer recess.
