WELFARE OF BROILER CHICKENS

That this House calls on the Government and the farming industry to improve welfare standards in the rearing of broiler chickens; congratulates the campaign by the RSPCA and chefs Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver to highlight the poor conditions in which many chickens are reared; notes that the industry spacing regulations for chickens raised for meat allow for 38kg of body weight per square metre, which is no more floor space per bird than a piece of A4 paper; further notes that limited space, lack of stimulation, and poor lighting conditions can lead to blindness, injuries and poor health; and further calls on the Government to work with the industry to move towards the RSPCA's guideline of 30kg of weight per square metre, and improve birds' lives by using slower-growing animals, improving lighting routines and providing environmental stimulation.