Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether legislative proposals to increase penalties available for animal cruelty offences require the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 does not need to be commenced. The necessary changes can be made by amending section 32(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.