Contributions
331 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q Mr Schwarz, would you like to comment? Mike Schwarz: That was obviously an important piece of legislation and I know you are rolling it out. I think the sentencing…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q There was a problem with criminal damage, as you know. Finn, the famous police dog, was attacked and there was no separate penalty at court. The reason was that criminal damage…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q So, you do not think there is a need? There is a general view, expressed by earlier witnesses, that there is a case for reviewing the sentencing guidelines to make them clearer…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q As you know, there has been a recent change in the law to make it more straightforward to prosecute under the Animal Welfare Act, in the case of service animals. At the moment,…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)I think there is an overwhelming case. Thank you very much.23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q I understand that is the position, but do you agree that if you have up to five years to work with, it is possible to make those distinctions more clearly than if you have just…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q On deterrence, do you agree that it would help if the courts and the Sentencing Council worked up a list of aggravating features that would merit a long sentence within the…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Q Would you see torturing an animal, setting it on another animal or attacking a service animal as being the main areas for aggravating features, or are there others? Michael…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (Second sitting)I also want to pay tribute to the campaigners for Finn’s law, including Sarah Dixon, who was the leader of the campaign in many ways, and who is with us today.23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (Second sitting)I do not know whether the Minister would agree with me on a point that may need further consideration. If an animal is under a person’s control, does that not give that person a…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (Second sitting)Does the hon. Lady agree with me and the evidence we heard this morning that one great advantage of increasing the sentence is that in the horrible cases where there is torture,…23 Jul 2019HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill (First sitting)Thank you.23 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream Environmentsrose —22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsWhen I spoke earlier, I made the point that builders and developers have suggested that it is possible for new homes to achieve water use of perhaps 120 litres per person per day.…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsWill my hon. Friend give way?22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsI wonder whether my right hon. Friend would wish to comment on the state of the River Kennet, which is a precious chalk stream close to him. Where does he think the Kennet is…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. People such as Jeremy Paxman, Feargal Sharkey—he used to be a pop star but now spends his time campaigning on this…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsIn my constituency, there are people who can remember swimming in the River Beane north of Watton-at-Stone when they were very young; now it is completely dry. Does my right hon.…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsI pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr Walker) for his remarkable and important efforts in this area. In my constituency, we have eight chalk streams: the…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Degraded Chalk Stream EnvironmentsI had miscounted; I have eight chalk streams in my constituency.22 Jul 2019