Contributions
1,212 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The amendments and the new clause ensure that the time limits for prosecuting offences set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 also apply to regulations that are made under the…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)I beg to move amendment 85, in clause 51, page 32, line 36, at end insert— “() sections (Taking of dog without lawful authority etc) and (Power to extend section (Taking of dog…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The theft of a pet is devastating. We all know that pet sales increased during the pandemic, as we were all at home and felt that we would like to share our homes with various…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)Well, we cannot seem to get it right, can we? We are either going to quickly or too slowly. [Interruption . ] I am teasing. This is being done quickly; I am not apologising for…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)I reassure Members that we will look carefully at the drafting of this clause, following the remarks we have heard today. I am confident that this is an appropriate place to bring…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The clause sets out when provisions in the Bill will commence, following Royal Assent. Question put and agreed to. Clause 51, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)This clause sets out the territorial extent of provisions in the Bill. Question put and agreed to. Clause 52, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 53 Short title…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)This clause is a standard provision that simply provides for the short title of the Bill once it becomes an Act at Royal Assent. The short title of this Bill will be the Animal…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman, with whom I remember discussing this issue at some length during the passage of the Agriculture Bill, will know that we are very much of one mind on this…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)We absolutely understand how distressing and financially damaging livestock worrying can be for farmers. The legislation makes reforms to provide police with more powers to tackle…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The Government are committed to improving the welfare of all dogs. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 puts obligations on all animal keepers to meet the full range of welfare needs. It…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The mutilation of dogs’ ears has been banned in the UK for some time, but there is currently no ban on imports, so as we heard in evidence, sadly the numbers continue to rise. The…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)I absolutely recognise that snares can be used improperly, and that non-target species, such as livestock, and particularly cats, can get trapped in them, sometimes fatally. The…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Fifth sitting)The Government take this issue seriously and have recently taken several steps to strengthen pet breeding and selling regulations, including banning the third-party sale of…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)The welfare of exotic pets held in private residences is already protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a kept animal or to…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)I agree that we would benefit from improved data collection on dog attack incidents, and I can confirm that we are already discussing with the police how this can best be…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)We absolutely share the hon. Lady’s desire for all cats to be microchipped. My own cat, a former Purr Minister, is himself microchipped. The Government committed in our manifesto,…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)Well, may I carry on? Colleagues may be aware that we have also carried out a post-implementation review of the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, which we also…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for her comments on this important issue and for confirming that she will not push the new clause to a vote. That is sensible. There are significant issues…18 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Sixth sitting)The Government acknowledge the importance of local abattoirs to improving animal welfare through shorter journey times. We are committed to working with the industry to ensure…18 Nov 2021