Clause 8 - Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare
Animal Welfare Bill
1:00 pm
Shona McIsaac (PPS (Rt Hon Alun Michael, Minister of State), Department of Trade and Industry; Cleethorpes, Labour)
Although the hon. Gentleman said that these are probing amendments, they have merit.
Amendment No. 88 would delete “in all the circumstances” which would make it easier to apply the provision in the courts. It is as simple as that and the amendment certainly has merit.
Amendment No. 128 is also important because the term “good practice” is essentially subjective and its inclusion could cause evidential debate about the meaning and could lengthen unnecessarily any court case. A better term to use might be “an appropriate manner”. Will the Minister reflect on that and discuss with his officials whether the wording could be improved so that it is easier for the courts to show that a welfare offence has taken place?