My Lords, a lot of the wild creatures kept in people’s homes as pets, whether birds or any other creature, have been smuggled into this country. Is the Minister confident that the National Wildlife Crime Unit has sufficient capacity to deal with the level of smuggling?

My Lords, a lot of the wild creatures kept in people’s homes as pets, whether birds or any other creature, have been smuggled into this country. Is the Minister confident that the National Wildlife Crime Unit has sufficient capacity to deal with the level of smuggling?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the detail of his reply. I appreciate that the House has a long day and so I shall not be detailed in my reply, except to say that we on these Benches are equally anxious that the Bill should reach the statute book....

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the detail of his reply. I appreciate that the House has a long day and so I shall not be detailed in my reply, except to say that we on these Benches are equally anxious that the Bill should reach the statute book....

moved Amendment No. 1: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““CIRCUS ANIMALS (1) For the purposes of a circus, a person commits an offence if he uses or keeps an animal not of a kind designated under subsection (2). (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Secretary...

moved Amendment No. 1: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““CIRCUS ANIMALS (1) For the purposes of a circus, a person commits an offence if he uses or keeps an animal not of a kind designated under subsection (2). (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Secretary...

My Lords, procedure apart, I apologise if any Member of the House feels that I have been misleading in any way. I was simply attempting to express the views on this issue of various colleagues in this House and in another place. However, I am not so insensitive that I...

My Lords, procedure apart, I apologise if any Member of the House feels that I have been misleading in any way. I was simply attempting to express the views on this issue of various colleagues in this House and in another place. However, I am not so insensitive that I...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that overall very positive reply. Since the start of the Bill, as he has explained, Defra has concentrated on this issue, thought much further about it and now has a date to propose. However, he did not answer my specific question whether the...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that overall very positive reply. Since the start of the Bill, as he has explained, Defra has concentrated on this issue, thought much further about it and now has a date to propose. However, he did not answer my specific question whether the...

My Lords, I thank the Minister. Overall, I believe that we have reached a very positive place with the amendment and the Minister’s answer to it. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 9 [Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare]:

My Lords, I thank the Minister. Overall, I believe that we have reached a very positive place with the amendment and the Minister’s answer to it. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 9 [Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare]:

moved Amendment No. 7: Page 7, line 13, at end insert- ““( ) For the purposes of identifying an animal's needs under subsections (1) and (2), the degree of domestication of the animal concerned shall be taken into account.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I apologise that my three...

moved Amendment No. 7: Page 7, line 13, at end insert- ““( ) For the purposes of identifying an animal's needs under subsections (1) and (2), the degree of domestication of the animal concerned shall be taken into account.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I apologise that my three...

My Lords, naturally, I am disappointed by the Minister’s reply. I took very much to heart last year the words of one of his predecessors at Defra, Mr Jim Knight, who in talking about the importation of wild birds, said that the Government needed to ““raise the bar”” on the...

My Lords, naturally, I am disappointed by the Minister’s reply. I took very much to heart last year the words of one of his predecessors at Defra, Mr Jim Knight, who in talking about the importation of wild birds, said that the Government needed to ““raise the bar”” on the...

moved Amendment No. 5: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““CIRCUS ANIMALS (1) For the purposes of a circus, a person commits an offence if he uses or keeps an animal not of a kind designated under subsection (2). (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Secretary...

moved Amendment No. 5: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““CIRCUS ANIMALS (1) For the purposes of a circus, a person commits an offence if he uses or keeps an animal not of a kind designated under subsection (2). (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Secretary...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““GAME BIRDS (1) The Secretary of State shall, by regulations, establish a code of practice for the keeping of game birds within 18 months of the day on which this Act is passed. (2) The code shall specify...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 8, insert the following new clause- ““GAME BIRDS (1) The Secretary of State shall, by regulations, establish a code of practice for the keeping of game birds within 18 months of the day on which this Act is passed. (2) The code shall specify...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that. From the tone of my reply, he will gather that I am still not fully satisfied and that I expect to bring the matter back at Third Reading for the reasons I have given. In the mean time, I beg leave to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that. From the tone of my reply, he will gather that I am still not fully satisfied and that I expect to bring the matter back at Third Reading for the reasons I have given. In the mean time, I beg leave to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. The objective sought cannot be achieved under the Bill, which is exactly why I have moved my amendment. Although it is good that the priority has moved, the Minister has not reassured me that the emphasis has changed one bit. He...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. The objective sought cannot be achieved under the Bill, which is exactly why I have moved my amendment. Although it is good that the priority has moved, the Minister has not reassured me that the emphasis has changed one bit. He...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the arrival of Report stage of this extremely important Bill, and look forward to debating the issues that we did not resolve in Committee. We have had a long Recess and it is quite hard to cast one’s mind back, but on the other hand,...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the arrival of Report stage of this extremely important Bill, and look forward to debating the issues that we did not resolve in Committee. We have had a long Recess and it is quite hard to cast one’s mind back, but on the other hand,...

My Lords, our debate about goldfish in Committee allowed us to have some heated debate and some lighter moments. This amendment would allow a person to completely disregard welfare when offering a goldfish as a prize. Effectively, it sets aside the core values of the Bill for one species chosen...

My Lords, our debate about goldfish in Committee allowed us to have some heated debate and some lighter moments. This amendment would allow a person to completely disregard welfare when offering a goldfish as a prize. Effectively, it sets aside the core values of the Bill for one species chosen...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, which satisfies me. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 12 [Regulations to promote welfare]:

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, which satisfies me. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 12 [Regulations to promote welfare]:

My Lords, I should just like to comment that more and more provision is being made through secondary legislation. That is not really a debating point for the Bill, but it is something to flag up with the House that, as we will inevitably debate Lords reform in future—the powers...

My Lords, I should just like to comment that more and more provision is being made through secondary legislation. That is not really a debating point for the Bill, but it is something to flag up with the House that, as we will inevitably debate Lords reform in future—the powers...

moved Amendment No. 13: After Clause 11, insert the following new clause- ““PET FAIRS (1) A person commits an offence if he- (a) sells an animal in the course of or in connection with a pet fair, (b) arranges a pet fair, or (c) knowingly participates in making, or carrying...

moved Amendment No. 13: After Clause 11, insert the following new clause- ““PET FAIRS (1) A person commits an offence if he- (a) sells an animal in the course of or in connection with a pet fair, (b) arranges a pet fair, or (c) knowingly participates in making, or carrying...

My Lords, on the day this clause was dealt with in Committee, my noble friends Lord Greaves and Lord Dholakia raised some concerns. I know that they will be very grateful to the Minister for addressing them through the amendments. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 20 [Orders in relation...

My Lords, on the day this clause was dealt with in Committee, my noble friends Lord Greaves and Lord Dholakia raised some concerns. I know that they will be very grateful to the Minister for addressing them through the amendments. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 20 [Orders in relation...

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, said that she tabled her amendment as a reaction to the article in the Sunday Times. I am sure that the House is grateful to her for doing that and enabling this debate to take place, which has brought out serious welfare issues...

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Byford, said that she tabled her amendment as a reaction to the article in the Sunday Times. I am sure that the House is grateful to her for doing that and enabling this debate to take place, which has brought out serious welfare issues...

I thank Members of the Committee who have spoken and given very good examples; I also thank the Minister for his most helpful reply. I look forward to exploring this issue between now and Report. The Minister referred to police horses used in riots. Let us suppose that using horses was never reviewed...

I thank Members of the Committee who have spoken and given very good examples; I also thank the Minister for his most helpful reply. I look forward to exploring this issue between now and Report. The Minister referred to police horses used in riots. Let us suppose that using horses was never reviewed...