Key Facts

• The Animal Sentience Committee is established in legislation.
• The committee's role is to support Parliament’s scrutiny of Government policy decision-making.
• Ministers must respond promptly and openly to the committee’s reports.
• The debate is chaired by Charles Walker.
• Concerns raised about the committee's lack of power and influence over policy-making processes.
• Discussion includes references to the UK Internal Market Act 2020 and its impact on devolved animal welfare measures.
• Amendment 5 aims to remove the word 'adverse' from clause 2.
• Jo Churchill explains that including 'adverse' does not restrict the committee's ability to consider all effects.
• The amendment is supported by groups like Compassion in World Farming.
• Amendment 2 would require government departments to respond constructively to requests from the Animal Sentience Committee.
• The amendment aims to prevent the committee from being 'toothless' and ineffective.
• Campaigners Better Deal for Animals highlighted the risk of the ASC (Animal Sentience Committee) being ignored by decision-makers.
• The Bill aims to support policy-making decisions by Ministerial Departments.
• The scope covers all central Government policy decisions from formulation to implementation.
• The Animal Sentience Committee’s secretariat will assist in raising awareness of its role and form an overview of relevant policy decisions.
• Amendment 4 proposes extending the scope of the Animal Sentience Committee to public bodies.
• The amendment requires the Secretary of State to produce a plan within one year of the Bill's commencement.
• The RSPCA and British Veterinary Association support the idea of including all relevant bodies under the committee’s remit.
• The committee will focus on around six individual policy decisions per year.
• Reports from the committee must be published and a Government response laid before Parliament within three months.
• Local authorities will not be included in the scrutiny process.
• The amendment would require a Minister to give an oral response to Animal Sentience Committee reports.
• Clause 3 mandates the Secretary of State to lay a response to these reports before Parliament within three months of publication.
• The committee considers whether government policies have given 'all due regard' to animal welfare.
• Ministers must lay a written response before Parliament within three months of an Animal Sentience Committee report's publication.
• The Animal Sentience Committee is included in the list of organisations subject to the Public Records Act 1958 and Freedom of Information Act 2000.
• Meeting minutes and supporting documents of the committee will be published online.
• Charles Walker seeks clarity on the composition of the Animal Sentience Committee.
• The committee's makeup is not overly prescriptive to allow for flexibility and inclusion of experts from devolved nations.
• Charles Walker has had only his first point of order in 11 years.
• Baroness Hayman commented that the current Bill provides a weaker set of responsibilities compared to EU law.
• Article 13 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union imposed direct legal obligations on decision-makers regarding animal sentience.
• The new clause would require annual updates to Parliament and hold Ministers accountable for progress against the strategy.
• Charles Walker provides guidance based on the Clerk's note.
• Members are encouraged to acknowledge their staff’s service.
• Several organizations such as RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming are mentioned.