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Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill - Second Reading of the entire bill
25 October 2021
Lead MP
George Eustice
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
Business & TradeAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Other Contributors: 36
At a Glance
George Eustice raised concerns about animal welfare (kept animals) bill - second reading of the entire bill in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs moved that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill be read a Second time. He highlighted the UK's long-standing commitment to animal welfare and outlined several key areas addressed by the bill: banning exports of livestock and other animals for slaughter or fattening; tackling puppy imports; prohibiting primates as domestic pets; updating legislation on dogs attacking livestock; and strengthening zoo licensing standards. The Bill aims to protect animals domestically and internationally while ensuring consistency across Great Britain.
Neil Parish
Con
Tiverton and Honiton
Welcomed the ban on live export of animals for slaughter but raised concerns about potential hindrances to livestock and breeding stock coming into and out of the country.
Andrew Selous
Con
Dover
Noted an increase in puppy prices during the pandemic and expressed concern that reducing the number of pets per person to five may still allow for high-value puppies worth criminal activity. He asked if the Secretary of State would keep this limit under review, especially concerning higher-value puppies.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Expressed concern about zoo regulations and asked for a timescale for when draft regulations might be brought forward to allow adequate consultation with stakeholders.
Luke Pollard
Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Pollard supports the Bill's animal welfare policies, but argues for stricter puppy smuggling regulations. He suggests reducing the number of puppies per vehicle to three from five, raising the minimum age at which dogs can be imported to six months, and increasing penalties for illegal importation. He also inquires about additional funding for enforcement.
Sheryll Murray
Con
South East Cornwall
Mrs. Murray interjected to remind Mr. Pollard of the name of her constituency's sanctuary, Wild Futures, which cares for rescued primates.
Neil Parish
Con
Tiverton and Honiton
Welcomes the Bill, emphasises the need for strong licensing of primates and phase-out of private keeping. Supports strengthening measures against livestock worrying and improving agricultural policy to encourage responsible countryside use. Advocates for stricter regulations on importing puppies but sees value in exporting breeding stock. Calls for tightening up importation rules and considers raising puppy age limit from six months as a critical measure.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Supports increased animal welfare but raises concerns about the efficiency of proposed measures against puppy smuggling. Urges reduction in maximum pets per vehicle to three and bans on transporting pregnant dogs. Advocates for an outright ban on exotic animals as pets. Raises issues regarding zoo licensing changes and lack of parliamentary scrutiny. Asks for transparency from Government on the role of the Zoos Expert Committee and conservation definitions. Emphasises the importance of education in conservation efforts.
Andrew Rosindell
Con
Romford
Mr Rosindell supports the Bill, advocating for enhanced provisions on dog attacks on livestock and the prohibition of mutilated animal imports. He raises concerns about zoo conservation efforts needing a broad definition to encompass all activities and calls for greater transparency from the Zoos Expert Committee.
Andrew Selous
Con
Tiverton and Honiton
Mr Selous interjects with support, agreeing that conservation efforts need to be emphasised more strongly and commending zoos for their work.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon praises Mr Rosindell's energy and enthusiasm, agreeing that conservation can occur in partnership with distant countries and involves working with local people. He highlights a project in Belfast involving lemurs from Madagascar.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Ms Champion congratulates Mr Rosindell on his award and supports the idea that conservation must involve local people, noting its benefits for tourism in areas like Kerala.
Pontypridd
Welcomed provisions in the Bill to end live animal exports and tackle illegal puppy trade. Raised concerns about pet theft, puppies smuggled from overseas, and pregnant dogs being imported to circumvent commercial third-party puppy sales bans. Emphasised the need for additional resources for Border Force to enforce laws effectively. Urged Minister to address ear cropping issue with a minimum age limit of six months for puppies. Mentioned personal interest in ending sale of fireworks for public use due to anxiety caused among pets.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Welcomes the Bill and its intentions, particularly regarding puppy smuggling, heavily pregnant animals, minimum age for transport, rabies titre checks, pet limits per vehicle, banning mutilated animals importation, health checks on incoming animals, illegal horse transportation to Europe, export of livestock for slaughter or fattening, conditions during animal transport, bolstering abattoir network, workforce issues in food supply chain, pig crisis and labour shortages, reopening export market to China, devolution coordination.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Owen criticised the Government's approach to licensing non-human primates as pets, suggesting it undermines the promise of a ban. She emphasised the importance of zoo conservation work and its impact on education. Owen also touched on the issue of fireworks misuse affecting animals during Halloween.
Bill Wiggin
Con
not specified
Intervened to argue that licensing non-human primates allows for a case-by-case approach, ensuring the welfare of individual animals. He suggested it is necessary due to the variety of scenarios which cannot be addressed by an outright ban.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Expressed concern about dogs going missing during fireworks season and supported Owen's stance on addressing animal welfare issues more comprehensively.
Sheryll Murray
Con
Tendring
Murray advocated for a complete ban on keeping primates as pets, citing social needs of primates and the need for expert care. She expressed concerns over licensing, vet expertise, and the welfare conditions post-trade. Murray also emphasised the importance of addressing issues related to cat imports and supported reducing companion animals from five to three.
Bill Wiggin
Con
North Herefordshire
Welcomes parts of the Bill relating to licensing for primates and measures against dogs attacking livestock. Argues that licensing provides flexibility rather than a blanket ban, allowing case-by-case consideration of animal welfare. Supports part 2 of the Bill addressing livestock worrying by dogs as it is a regular issue in his constituency with devastating effects on farmers.
Neil Parish
Con
Tewkesbury
[INTERVENTION] Emphasises that when excited, dogs may not listen to their owners even if usually obedient. Advocates for keeping dogs on leads in areas with livestock to prevent attacks.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
[INTERVENTION] Points out that there is an increase in animals being given away post-lockdown, urging people to rehome these pets. Also supports parts of the Bill related to livestock exports, bothering farm animals, puppy smuggling regulations, and the inclusion of ear cropping and tail docking.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
He supports the clause on primates, arguing against domestic keeping of primates as pets. He also supports an amendment to limit the number of puppies in a litter that can be imported together to three, believing it is too high currently. Gale shares concerns about tick and worm treatments with his colleague, stating the relaxation of regulations was a mistake. He strongly condemns illegal puppy imports and suggests severe penalties for those involved. He also supports banning live animal transport for slaughter but believes some movement of animals for breeding stock should be allowed under certain conditions.
Intervened to express support for the Bill, citing a past incident in Ramsgate involving sheep and expressing hope that the Bill will stop live animal trade. He supports regulation of non-stun slaughter.
Intervened to thank Roger Gale for his comments and pay tribute to Kent Action Against Live Exports group for their efforts in campaigning against live exports. He suggests a need for a sensitive debate on non-stun slaughter.
Paul Maynard
Con
Blackpool North and Cleveleys
Mr. Paul Maynard supports licensing animal sanctuaries, rescue and rehoming centres as a means to protect vulnerable animals' welfare by ensuring that organisations meet the necessary standards of care. He mentions cases where unregulated facilities have led to horses suffering due to poor management and highlights the need for a robust system to identify at-risk establishments quickly. Additionally, he raises concerns about parrot sanctuaries being used to collect birds cheaply and then closing down.
David Jones
Con
Clwyd West
Welcomes progressive animal welfare measures but suggests that provisions in the Bill regarding fines for dogs worrying livestock do not go far enough. Supports prohibition of live animal exports for slaughter and emphasises zoos' societal benefits. Raises concerns over lack of consultation during the revision process, transferring power to Secretary of State through secondary legislation, and removal of appeal rights against conservation standards.
Virginia Crosbie
Con
Ynys Môn
Ms Crosbie argued for stronger legislation to address livestock worrying. She presented evidence of significant financial and emotional distress experienced by farmers due to dog attacks, noting that the current law is insufficient given technological and societal changes.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Ms Lockhart intervened to suggest empowering local councils to address livestock worrying, an approach used in Northern Ireland due to police service pressures. She proposed the Government consider this model.
Andrew Selous
Con
South West Bedfordshire
Mr Selous supported the Bill's measures, including those on livestock worrying, which he noted as a particular concern for his partly rural constituency. He highlighted farmers' emotional distress caused by dog attacks and welcomed expanded police powers.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Mr Hudson intervened to suggest expanding the scope of the Bill or future legislation to address theft of farm livestock and horses, as such animals are increasingly being stolen. He emphasised the importance of comprehensive measures.
Henry Smith
Con
Crawley
Henry Smith supports the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, highlighting its importance for advancing and improving animal welfare standards. He notes that research and conservation should be central to what zoos do best and suggests refining livestock worrying provisions further in Committee. Additionally, he expresses satisfaction with measures addressing puppy importation, tail docking, and ear clipping. Smith also welcomes the ban on live animal exports for slaughter and fattening but calls for addressing potential loopholes related to Northern Ireland. He advocates for reducing journeys of animals for environmental benefits. Smith mentions his personal interest in ending enriched cages for hens as a tribute to Sir David Amess.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Welcomes the proposed changes to pet movement regulations, supports extending the ban on puppy farming to Northern Ireland, and emphasises the importance of better co-operation between the UK government and Northern Ireland Assembly. He also raises concerns about livestock worrying and the need for stronger measures to protect animals during emergencies.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Supports the Bill's positive moves regarding export of livestock and importation of dogs, cats and ferrets. She highlights that Northern Ireland is currently governed by EU law due to the protocol, advocating for bringing Northern Ireland under UK laws.
Lisa Cameron
SNP
East Kilbride and Strathaven and Hamilton
Supports the Bill as an important improvement on existing animal welfare legislation. Advocates for a complete ban on primates as pets due to their complex welfare needs. Calls for clearer guidance in the Bill regarding livestock worrying and irresponsible dog ownership. Supports the ban on live exports for slaughter, highlighting concerns about greyhounds being exported to Asia. Proposes reducing the maximum number of dogs that may be taken in transit from five to three and increasing the minimum age of puppies imported to six months to aid screening.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Zeichner supports ending live exports but criticises the Bill for not addressing current animal welfare crises. He highlights the need for better conditions for piglets and an end to cage age practices. He also calls for more stringent measures against keeping primates as pets, clearer licensing standards, additional funding for local councils managing a complex system without financial strain, concerns about livestock worrying provisions, long-distance transportation of animals within the UK.
The MP raised a specific concern regarding thousands of dead crustaceans found on Redcar and Marske beaches, questioning the cause. He seeks further investigation into this issue.
The MP requested an intervention to discuss issues related to livestock worrying and other animal welfare matters, though specific arguments are not provided in this excerpt.
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