Found: The Committee noted in their report the previous Government had withdrawn The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: That report was on the Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill 1.

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO.2) ANIMAL WELFARE (KEPT ANIMALS) BILL

Found: The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 8 June 2021.

Found: Chair, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee 24 November 2021 Dear Huw, Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill 1

Found: report on the Revised Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: report on the Revised Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: report on the Revised Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Committee Timetable for consideration of the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO.2) ANIMAL WELFARE (KEPT ANIMALS) BILL

Found: Welsh Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: www.senedd.wales Timetable for consideration: Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: www.senedd.wales Timetable for consideration: Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Bill (paragraphs 21–24); The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: (two of which are carry over Bills from the previous UK Parliamentary session):  Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: The Welsh Government was recommending that the Senedd grant its consent to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO.2) ANIMAL WELFARE (KEPT ANIMALS) BILL

Found: 20 See LJC Committee, The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Codes of Practice Section 3: UK/GB Policy Collaboration Fallen Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: progress across all four of our animal welfare Programme for Government commitments: The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: with the UK Government on introducing additional safeguards for animals through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Retrieved from Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (parliament.uk) APGAW (2017).

Found: UK/GB policy collaborations:  Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill; and  Welfare in Transport. 1.5

Found: the Queen’s speech which included a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill; an Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill This Bill was introduced in the

Found: We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Found: governments to further the animal welfare agenda, for example through the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Question

How are the Welsh Government encouraging the UK Government to reintroduce the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill in order to tackle the illegal importation of puppies into the UK?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill remains a priority and we await a report stage date from UK Government. I have laid Legislative Consent Memorandums for all clauses contained in the Bill in the Senedd.

I raised the Bill’s stalled progress at January’s Inter-Ministerial Group meeting and have since written to the Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, expressing my concern at the delay and requesting the Bill be prioritised.

The illegal import of puppies is one of several key issues addressed in the Bill and I will continue to press for its progression.

Question

Will the Minster provide an update on the progression of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill in Westminster, and what work the Welsh Government is doing to support the progression of this piece of legislation?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill remains a priority and we await a report stage date from UK Government. My officials continue to meet regularly with DEFRA and the Devolved Governments and I have laid Legislative Consent Memorandums for all clauses contained in the Bill in the Senedd.

I have recently written to Lord Benyon Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to express my concern over the Bill’s stalled progress and to request that it is prioritised, having raised it at the recent DEFRA IMG meeting.  

Question

What is the Welsh Government doing to educate dog walkers on the dangers of sheep worrying?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. Our Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs informs owners of their obligations relating to controlling their dogs and the governing pieces of legislation, of which there are many. We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, also provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

Question

What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the potential impact that the ban on electronic training aids may have on the number of dogs that could be destroyed under Section 30 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

It is not possible to know how many destruction orders for dogs which attack livestock may be issued in Wales should the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill come into effect. As currently drafted, this is just one of a range of ancillary orders the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

Why did the Welsh Government’s 2015 review of the ban on e-collars not include an assessment of the potential impact on the numbers of livestock killed by dogs?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The scope of the 2015 review was to provide the Welsh Government with an impartial literature review and an analysis of the science available on the use of electronic collars that provide a static impulse or shock. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether the benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

Why did the Welsh Government’s 2015 review of the ban on e-collars not include an assessment of the potential impact on the numbers of livestock killed by dogs?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The scope of the 2015 review was to provide Welsh Government with an impartial literature review and an analysis of the science available on the use of electronic collars that provide a static impulse or shock. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether the benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

What evidence does the Minister have that dogs who have attacked livestock will never attack again if they do not have e-collar training?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat is banned in Wales.

Clause 30 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill provides that when a person is convicted of an offence under clause 25 and the Court is satisfied that the relevant dog poses a risk of attacking or worrying livestock again, the Court may order the relevant dog to be destroyed (“a destruction order”). When making a destruction order, the Court must set out its reasons for doing so which must be entered into the register of its proceedings. It is not possible to know how many destruction orders for dogs which attack livestock may be issued in Wales should the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill come into effect. As currently drafted, this is just one of a range of ancillary orders the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

With reference to Section 30 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, what are the animal welfare merits of permitting dogs which have attacked livestock to be destroyed but not trained with e-collars?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat is banned in Wales.

Clause 30 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill provides that when a person is convicted of an offence under clause 25 and the Court is satisfied that the relevant dog poses a risk of attacking or worrying livestock again, the Court may order the relevant dog to be destroyed (“a destruction order”). When making a destruction order, the Court must set out its reasons for doing so which must be entered into the register of its proceedings. It is not possible to know how many destruction orders for dogs which attack livestock may be issued in Wales should the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill come into effect. As currently drafted, this is just one of a range of ancillary orders the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

How many destruction orders for dogs that have attacked livestock does the Minister expect to be issued in Wales should the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill come into effect?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat is banned in Wales.

Clause 30 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill provides that when a person is convicted of an offence under clause 25 and the Court is satisfied that the relevant dog poses a risk of attacking or worrying livestock again, the Court may order the relevant dog to be destroyed (“a destruction order”). When making a destruction order, the Court must set out its reasons for doing so which must be entered into the register of its proceedings. It is not possible to know how many destruction orders for dogs which attack livestock may be issued in Wales should the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill come into effect. As currently drafted, this is just one of a range of ancillary orders the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effectiveness of current guidance to dog owners about preventing their dogs attacking sheep?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animal welfare and the responsible ownership of animals are priorities for the Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Question

What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the merits of permitting dogs which have attacked livestock to be (a) destroyed by court order and (b) trained with e-collars in order to prevent repeat incidents of livestock worrying?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why we introduced the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 to prevent the use of electronic training/impulse collars on dogs and cats. The regulations ban the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat. 

In 2015, the Welsh Government commissioned an independent review of evidence in relation to the welfare implications for dogs and cats arising from the use of electric collars. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether the benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs. The review is available on the Welsh Government website: electronic-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-review-of-welfare-implications.pdf (gov.wales). There are no plans to review the regulations at this time.

Question

Will the Government consider reversing the ban of e-collars in response to the scientific evidence which proves that electronic collar training prevents unaccompanied dogs from attacking livestock?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animal welfare and the responsible ownership of animals are priorities for the Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why we introduced the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 to prevent the use of electronic training/impulse collars on dogs and cats. The regulations ban the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat. 

In 2015, the Welsh Government commissioned an independent review of evidence in relation to the welfare implications for dogs and cats arising from the use of electric collars. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether the benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs. The review is available on the Welsh Government website: electronic-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-review-of-welfare-implications.pdf (gov.wales). There are no plans to review the regulations at this time. However, my officials monitor the situation closely and would be interested to see the scientific evidence that you cite in your question.

Question

What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the ban on e-collars further to the National Police Chief's Council report which showed that in 89 per cent of dog attacks on livestock in North Wales, the dog was unaccompanied?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Animal welfare and the responsible ownership of animals are priorities for the Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 with a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock. It aims to broaden the definition of livestock which are afforded protection and the areas in which the powers apply. As currently drafted, it also incorporates a range of ancillary orders that the Courts may make to provide effective tools to address reoffending in the most serious cases of livestock worrying.

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why we introduced the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 to prevent the use of electronic training/impulse collars on dogs and cats. The regulations ban the use of any collar that is capable of administering an electric shock to a dog or cat. 

In 2015, the Welsh Government commissioned an independent review of evidence in relation to the welfare implications for dogs and cats arising from the use of electric collars. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether the benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs. The review is available on the Welsh Government website: electronic-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-review-of-welfare-implications.pdf (gov.wales). There are no plans to review the regulations at this time. However, my officials monitor the situation closely and would be interested to see the scientific evidence that you cite in your question.

Question

Will the Welsh Government commit to introducing visual checks at Welsh ports to help tackle puppy smuggling if the UK Government opt not to introduce this as part of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

All non-commercial dogs entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than ROI, NI and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo full documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.

Authorised pet checkers are trained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and benefit from regular refresher training, to undertake these checks and identify and report potential non-compliances.

Commercial imports are subject to physical checks which include detailed examinations and sampling as required. We are not proposing to introduce mandatory physical checks for pets, as identity checks include visual checks to ensure the animals match the documentation.

Further training for authorised pet checkers will be provided with respect to the introduction of any new restrictions brought in by the Kept Animals Bill in order to identify potential non-compliances. Currently these changes are to:

1. Increase the minimum age of imported and non-commercial dogs from 15 weeks to 6 months;
2. Ban the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs with non-exempted mutilations;
3. Reduce the number of animals that can travel under the non-commercial pet travel rules; and
4. Prohibit the importation and non-commercial movement of a bitch (dog) who is more than 42 days pregnant.

The changes being introduced by the Kept Animals Bill have been developed in conjunction with the other Devolved Governments and will be consistently applied to all borders to ensure a harmonised biosecurity regime that protects imports of dogs.

Question

What action is the Welsh Government taking to work with the UK Government to ensure that visual checks at the UK border are introduced as part of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

All non-commercial dogs entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than ROI, NI and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo full documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.

Authorised pet checkers are trained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and benefit from regular refresher training, to undertake these checks and identify and report potential non-compliances.

Commercial imports are subject to physical checks which include detailed examinations and sampling as required. We are not proposing to introduce mandatory physical checks for pets, as identity checks include visual checks to ensure the animals match the documentation.

Further training for authorised pet checkers will be provided with respect to the introduction of any new restrictions brought in by the Kept Animals Bill in order to identify potential non-compliances. Currently these changes are to:

a) Increase the minimum age of imported and non-commercial dogs from 15 weeks to 6 months

b) Ban the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs with non-exempted mutilations

c) Reduce the number of animals that can travel under the non-commercial pet travel rules; and

d) Prohibit the importation and non-commercial movement of a bitch (dog) who is more than 42 days pregnant.

The changes being introduced by the Kept Animals Bill have been developed in conjunction with the other Devolved Governments and will be consistently applied to all borders to ensure a harmonised biosecurity regime that protects imports of dogs.

Question

What consideration has the Welsh Government given to matching any commitments to visual checks at the border for pet animals should the UK Government introduce these as part of secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than ROI, NI and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo full documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.

Authorised pet checkers are trained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and benefit from regular refresher training, to undertake these checks and identify and report potential non-compliances.

Commercial imports are subject to physical checks which include detailed examinations and sampling as required. We are not proposing to introduce mandatory physical checks for pets, as identity checks include visual checks to ensure the animals match the documentation.

Further training for authorised pet checkers will be provided with respect to the introduction of any new restrictions brought in by the Kept Animals Bill in order to identify potential non-compliances. Currently these changes are to:

a) Increase the minimum age of imported and non-commercial dogs from 15 weeks to 6 months;

b) Ban the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs with non-exempted mutilations;

c) Reduce the number of animals that can travel under the non-commercial pet travel rules; and

d) Prohibit the importation and non-commercial movement of a bitch (dog) who is more than 42 days pregnant.

Question

What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government to encourage the reduction of the number of pet animals to three per vehicle within the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Currently Pet Travel rules allow up to five pets to be transported per person – for example 4 people in 1 vehicle can transport up to 20 puppies into Great Britain.

Discussions have been held between Welsh, UK and Scottish Government officials on a reduction to five per vehicle to deter those who misuse the Pet Travel Scheme, whilst minimising the impact of genuine owners travelling with their pets under the pet travel rules.

This decision was made following extensive research and engagement with various stakeholders, including authorised pet checkers, carriers, animal welfare organisations and veterinary bodies.

A report from People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report/paw-report-2021)  following a national survey in May 2021, found that 7% of pet owners owned 4 or more dogs and cats. In contrast, less than 2% of pet owners have 6 or more pet cats and dogs. Therefore, to ensure we minimise the impacts on genuine pet owners, we have decided to put in place a limit of five pets per vehicle.

The limit of five pets per vehicle is also current industry practice.  Eurotunnel, which sees the greatest volume of pet movements, has capped the numbers of non-commercial animals on its services to five per vehicle.

Question

What steps is the Welsh Government taking to minimise dog attacks on livestock in Wales?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

This is a worrying and distressing issue for our farming communities and something we take very seriously. We would encourage livestock keepers to report all incidents to the police. It’s important this information is recorded.

The Countryside Code is clear that dogs should be kept under control and away from livestock. Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and others remind the public of this message on social media channels, and it features strongly in our ongoing Addo campaign on enjoying the countryside responsibly. This has ensured wide reach online and in other locations such as service stations and buses.

We are working with the UK Government on a new set of provisions to address the issue of dogs attacking or worrying livestock through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. 

Question

Will the Welsh Government set out any plans it may have for changes to the regulation of zoos and animal attractions in Wales, including an outline of any proposals and a timetable for their consideration and possible implementation?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The Welsh Government has agreed to be included in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill which, along with other animal welfare related improvements, proposes to amend the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to increase penalties for non-compliance and provide Local Authorities with better tools for enforcement to ensure zoo operators comply with our Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

The Bill also seeks to amend the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to enable the Welsh Ministers to specify the standards for the conservation requirements that zoos must comply with. This will provide the means to ensure that zoos adopt strengthened conservation requirements and these requirements can be updated more often.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum was laid before Senedd Cymru on 22 June 2021 in relation to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

Found: The UK Government’s Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill sets out a range of new measures on animal welfare