Snares

That this House welcomes the Government’s commitment to ban the use of snares in England and is heartened that the governments of Wales and Scotland have already successfully implemented such a ban; notes that a 2016 motion calling for a ban on snares was passed unanimously, and further, that a 2023 parliamentary debate on snares was triggered after more than 100,000 people signed a government petition; understands that many conservation land owners, such as The Woodland Trust, RSPB and Wildlife Trusts do not use snares on welfare grounds; further notes that many organisations including the British Veterinary Association, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, Cats Protection and Badger Trust support a ban on snares on the grounds of animal welfare; acknowledges that snares are notoriously indiscriminate, catching, injuring and killing non-target animals, such as badgers, cats, dogs and deer, as well as causing pain and suffering to wild animals; and, in light of YouGov polling in 2025 demonstrating that 71% of those who live in England believe that the use of snares should be made illegal in the country, calls on the Government to bring in a ban on the sale, possession and use of all snares without delay.