To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 January (HL Deb, col 7), how many local authorities have enforced animal welfare legislation in each year since 2010.

Local authorities have powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to enforce animal welfare and, at a district level, local authorities regulate certain licensed activities involving animals. At a county level, local authorities also carry out various functions in relation to on-farm animal welfare. The Government does not hold records as to what degree individual local authorities enforce animal welfare laws. It is up to each local authority to decide what level of enforcement they will provide in relation to animal welfare based upon local priorities.