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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policy on self-regulation of the animal establishment licensing industry of the performance of (a) the City of London Corporation and Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association partnership in being the first primary authority scheme to include an inspection plan to cover animal establishments and to be a co-ordinated partnership and (b) other similar recent schemes; and if she will make a statement.

Partnerships of this kind can make a valuable contribution to improving animal welfare. There are other examples where industry, animal welfare or animal keeping representative groups have provided local authorities with advice or training in relation to animal welfare work. We are pleased that this particular industry is working closely with local authorities, and the City of London specifically, to improve the quality of inspections and look forward to seeing welfare improvements as a consequence.