Thank you for contacting me about animal sentience.
First and foremost, I believe animals are sentient beings who can feel pain and suffering and I would like to reassure you that strong action is being taken to reduce their risk of harm.
I believe we must all receive dignified care in old age. With an ageing population, this is one of the biggest challenges our country faces. I support the Government’s commitment to making sure that the most vulnerable in society gain the support they need.
It is important that as our economy begins to recover, with more businesses reopening and staff returning to work, that there is a welcoming and safe night time economy. The night time economy is hugely important to our entertainment and culture in the UK, and it is the UK's fifth largest sector.
Thank you for contacting me about arthritis. I know this can be a very painful and debilitating condition. I recognise that living with a long-term condition, such as arthritis, has a significant impact upon a person’s wellbeing.
I believe that the use of animals should be avoided wherever possible, and in the limited cases when animals are used, this should be done in accordance with strict guidelines to ensure any suffering is minimised.
We are a nation of animal lovers, so it is only right that we have some of the highest welfare standards in the world. In addition to fur farming being banned in the UK, I am pleased to note that the import of fur products is tightly regulated. It is illegal to import furs derived from cats or dogs, or products made from them. In addition, the fur and skin of endangered animals or fish cannot be imported without a valid permit.
I am certainly one of the many people are keen to get back into the pool, so I appreciate the frustration of seeing announcements on the restarting of many other sports and activities. I know this is especially of concern to people my age and above, often whose main form of exercise is swimming, and for the parents of primary children who are missing their chance to learn to swim as part of the national curriculum.
The RPI is one of the oldest measures of inflation in the UK and is widely used across the economy. It has a number of flaws, however, which means it is often an inaccurate method of measuring inflation.
I am a passionate supporter of pubs and believe that they are fundamental to our way of life in this country. They also play a crucial role in the economic life of our nation, as well in helping to promote responsible drinking. I'm encouraged by the support which has made available to pubs and our manifesto commitment to further cut taxes for small businesses.
