I am a strong advocate of animal welfare, including that of horses, and I am proud of the United Kingdom’s strong record on animal welfare. I am also pleased that the UK Government is working to build on that record and improve animal welfare standards even further – for instance, in 2015 the UK Parliament passed the Control of Horses Act 2015, which addresses the issue of fly-grazing, a major cause of horse welfare problems.
The creation of the Central Equine Database is primarily a human health issue, which will ensure that horses do not enter the human food chain if they have been treated with medical products that have not been authorised for food producing animals. However, it will be a step forward for the welfare of horses, and will help locate owners of horses that are abandoned, lost, or straying.
I understand that the UK Government has made good progress establishing the Central Equine Database, and would also note that enforcement bodies, including local authorities and the Food Standards Agency, are already able to search records to identify horses.
Justice and agriculture are devolved issues here in Scotland, and so many aspects of animal welfare and animal welfare enforcement are matters for the Scottish Government. I hope the Scottish Government will join the UK Government in working hard to ensure the welfare of horses.