Part of Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:00 pm on 24 April 2024.
Ben Lake
Shadow PC Spokesperson (Treasury), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Education), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Digital, Culture, Media & Sport), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Health and Social Care), Shadow PC Spokesperson (Housing, Communities & Local Government), Shadow PC Spokesperson (The Constitution and Welsh Affairs)
4:00,
24 April 2024
Thank you, Mrs Latham, for calling me to contribute to this Bill Committee. I congratulate Dr Coffey on introducing this Bill and on its reaching Committee. It is a very important Bill that addresses a problem that affects many of my constituents in Ceredigion.
In recent years, I have had to speak to too many farmers who have been victims of dog attacks on their livestock. Suffice it to say, such attacks are devastating, not only for the animals concerned but for the families and the farmers. Many have told me that they dread looking out the window in the evening to see their livestock hurrying about in fear of a repeat attack. It is very important that this Bill has reached this stage, and I congratulate the right hon. Lady on stewarding it this far.
I am particularly pleased to be here because I remember our debates in Committee on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The hon. Members for Cambridge and for North Devon, who were also members of that Bill Committee, will remember our debates about whether we should increase the responsibilities of dog owners when they walk their dogs. We discussed how they could keep their dogs under control and on leads. We are not discussing that today, although some might want to return to that debate and strengthen the law in that regard in future.
I very much believe that the amendments to the 1953 Act in today’s Bill—specifically, the enhanced investigatory powers of the police and the clarifications about dog attacks and livestock worrying—are important steps forward, which will address the problems and concerns of many of my constituents. I welcome the increased penalties for those found to have allowed their dogs to attack livestock. Responsible dog owners are one part of the population, but I agree with the right hon. Lady that we need to make sure that those who are not as responsible understand the importance of taking ownership and ensuring that their dogs are safely secured at their properties. The Majority of attacks on livestock are still made by dogs that have escaped properties.
I very much support the Amendment the right hon. Lady tabled. I heard what she said about not pushing it, but I think its provisions are important.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
