Clause 8 - Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare
Animal Welfare Bill
1:15 pm
Bill Wiggin (Shadow Minister (Agriculture & Fisheries), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)
I want to press the Minister slightly before I make a decision on the amendment. I tried my best to follow closely what he said, and in the case of my snake, unless the Minister actually states the length of snake per length of tank in the code of practice, it will be difficult to make the code absolute and proper. We therefore want the term “appropriate extent” rather than the more general terms in the Bill. I understand where the Minister is coming from, and we want to avoid being totally prescriptive, but this part of the Bill allows the Government to be even more prescriptive, and I have some concerns about it. However, I recognise that he will do his best with the codes.
I believe that the relevant code states that a cat should be neither too fat nor too thin. That worries me slightly because that is what I would like to be, although whether I am depends on whom I invite to give their opinion—my wife is rather critical. We need the Minister to assure us that we are going to provide for the best possible standards. If he just nods, I will be happy.
Mr. Bradshawindicated assent.