Closure of high street services in rural areas
There will be a Westminster Hall debate on the closure of high street services in rural areas on Wednesday 5th February at 9:30am.

A Westminster Hall debate is scheduled for 9 October on government support for the RSPCA. The debate will be opened by Ruth Jones MP.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was founded in 1824, led by Richard Martin, an Irish politician and member of the British Parliament with the goal of preventing cruelty to animals, particularly working animals such as horses, cattle, and dogs. Richard Martin had previously been instrumental in passing one of the earliest animal protection laws, the Martin’s Act 1822, aimed at preventing the cruel treatment of cattle. At the time of its creation, the SPCA was the first national animal protection society in the world. As the society grew, the inspectors were given uniforms and truncheons; it was not until 1828 that the Home Secretary, Robert Peel, set in motion what would be the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 which was the start of the modern police force in England.
After its formation, the SPCA successfully lobbied for the passage of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, which made it illegal to cruelly treat animals such as dogs, horses and cattle. In 1840, the SPCA became known as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) after being granted permission by Queen Victoria to add the word “royal” to its name. In 1870, the last bullfight in England took place after Islington, London, after an RSPCA official and a Police Superintendent stopped the event. Following the RSPCA’s sensitisation and lobbying, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, which further prohibited animal cruelty, was passed. In 1914, during the First World War, the RSPCA Fund for Sick/Wounded Horses was set up providing 13 animal hospitals, 180 horse-drawn ambulances, and 26 motor ambulances.
The RSPCA is the UK’s largest animal welfare charity and relies on volunteers and supporters for much of its work. The organisation currently records 1506 employees, 6919 volunteers, and 408 animal rescuers on the road. On average, the RSPCA has one officer for every 162,000 people in England and Wales (based on a population of 58,744,800) and has 137 branches. Its 2023 Trustees’ report and accounts (PDF) reports the contributions of 9500 volunteers and 819,620 supporters.
The RSPCA relies on public donations to fund and support its work. Its 2023 Trustees’ report and accounts (PDF) reports 420,000 supporters making regular donations and 61,131 “new financial supporters” resulting in £46.3 million of donated income—its second-highest source of income in the financial year (the top source of income was its legacy income which stood at £83.9 million). RSPCA receives some government funding, although this amounts to less than 0.1% of its annual expenditure. Such funding is usually restricted and generally used to support the group’s international work and some flood rescue work in the UK.
The RSPCA works on a range of areas related to animal welfare:
Further details of their work can be found in their Annual Review for 2023 and on the RSPCA Assured website.
The RSPCA has also set out eight ambitions in its 2021-2030 Strategy:
There have been a number of areas where the RSPCA has received criticism of its work on animal welfare issues
Currently RSPCA inspectors do not have any more powers than members of the public to enter any premises. To enter premises without permission they need to be accompanied by police or other authorised inspectors. There have been concerns that this is not always clear to animal owners. However, the RSPCA is calling for statutory powers to be granted to inspectors in England and in Wales.
There have been criticisms in the past of the RSPCA for carrying out their own private prosecutions for animal welfare offences, which they have done since the charity was created. The RSPCA has said that it was reconsidering this area of work, as it has become more complex, and stated in their 2024 Business Plan that they would be aiming to migrate prosecutions to the Crown Prosecution Service by 2026.
An investigation by Animal Rising, an animal welfare camping group, published a report on RPCA Assured in July 2024. This highlighted concerns after visiting a number of farms under the scheme where standards were not being met. They also concluded in some cases minimum legal animal welfare standards where not been met.
In response the RSPCA has launched its own investigation, which has not yet reported. Despite this the vice-president of the RSPCA, Brian May, resigned in September 2024 setting out the view that the RSPCA’s supervision had failed and that scheme should be dismantled. RSCPCA Assured has said that the scheme remains “crucial” and a driving force for change.
09 Feb 2021
09 Mar 2021
Dogs Today
Great Debate: Should the RSPCA be granted statutory powers?
22 February 2021
House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Animal welfare in England: domestic pets (PDF)
HC 117, 16 November 2016
Government response (PDF)
HC 1003, 7 February 2017
24 September 2014
There will be a Westminster Hall debate on the closure of high street services in rural areas on Wednesday 5th February at 9:30am.
Constituents may approach their MP stating that the holder of an honour should have this removed, due to their conduct. An MP can't arrange this, but can explain the process and perhaps support a campaign. A further Casework Article covers the process of nomination and award of honours.
Constituents may write to their MP requesting that someone be nominated or asking for support for a nomination. An MP may make a nomination, as with any member of the public. The MP would have to be familiar with the work or voluntary role the candidate is carrying out.