Overview

This bill aims to improve the welfare of pheasants and partridges kept for egg production in England and Wales by banning the use of raised laying cages and battery cages, and setting minimum space requirements for their enclosures.

Description

The Game Birds (Cage Breeding) Bill prohibits keeping pheasants and partridges in raised laying cages or battery cages for egg production. It defines "battery cage" as any enclosed space within a system of stacked or adjacent cages, and "raised laying cage" as any cage elevated from the ground. The bill mandates a minimum floor space of two square meters per bird in any enclosure used for keeping pheasants or partridges for egg production, even after the laying period. These provisions apply to anyone keeping or permitting the keeping of such birds under these conditions. Breaching the law is punishable by up to 51 weeks imprisonment, a fine (level 5 on the standard scale), or both.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. However, enforcement of the new regulations and any potential support for farmers adapting to the changes could involve some government expenditure. Exact figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Game bird farmers: They will need to adapt their farming practices to comply with the new regulations regarding cage use and space requirements, potentially incurring costs.
• Egg consumers: The bill may lead to changes in the price and availability of pheasant and partridge eggs.
• Enforcement agencies: They will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the new regulations.

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