Our examination of the draft Bill
1. The Government published its draft Animal Welfare
Bill on 14 July 2004.[1]
We decided to examine the draft Bill and, on 14 July, we invited
interested parties to submit written memoranda to us by 25 August
2004.
2. We received 187 memoranda from a wide range of
interested organisations and individuals. In the course of our
examination, 26 of the organisations and individuals who had initially
submitted memoranda sent us 33 supplementary memoranda. We also
received a great deal of correspondence from interested parties
on the progress of our examination of the draft Bill. We wish
to thank all those who submitted written evidence and assure them
that, in reporting to the House, we have endeavoured to take into
account the wide range of points raised in their evidence.
3. In taking oral evidence, we sought to hear from
witnesses who represented the wide range of views expressed in
written evidence. Although we took a great deal of oral evidence,
we were conscious that the Government had expressed its hope that
we would report to the House as soon as possible, and preferably
before the end of the 2003-04 parliamentary session. This timeframe
restricted the amount of oral evidence that we were able to take;
we regret that we were unable to hear from any of the organisations
who wrote to us during the course of our examination, seeking
to be heard by the Committee. We are very grateful to all those
who gave oral evidence or otherwise assisted with our inquiry.
4. We took oral evidence from 51 organisations or
individuals. They were: the Minister for Nature Conservation and
Fisheries, Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, and officials from the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); the RSPCA; the
Companion Animal Welfare Council; the Kennel Club; the Pet Advisory
Committee; the Pet Care Trust; Pets at Home; the Federation of
British Herpetologists; the International Fund for Animal Welfare;
the BioVeterinary Group; the Captive Animals' Protection Society;
BirdsFirst; Mr Duncan Davidson, veterinarian; Animals in Mind;
the Council of Docked Breeds; the Anti-Docking Alliance; the Farm
Animal Welfare Council; the Meat and Livestock Commission; the
National Farmers' Union; the Farmers' Union of Wales; the National
Sheep Association; the Rare Breeds Survival Trust; the British
Wildlife Rehabilitation Council; the Sea Fish Industry Authority;
the National Anglers' Alliance; the Shellfish Network; the National
Gamekeepers' Organisation; Animal Aid; the Federation of Zoological
Gardens; the Born Free Foundation; the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust;
the National Equine Welfare Council; the International League
for the Protection of Horses; Redwings Horse Sanctuary; the Association
of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain; Performing Animals Welfare
Standards International; the British Greyhound Racing Board; Greyhounds
UK; the Society of Conservative Lawyers; the Association of Chief
Police Officers; the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health;
the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services; Ms
Paula Williamson, Solicitor, Worcestershire County Council; the
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; the British Veterinary Association;
Mr Mike Radford, Reader of Law, University of Aberdeen; the Country
Land and Business Association; the Countryside Alliance; Advocates
for Animals; the League Against Cruel Sports; and the Self-Help
Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others Experiencing Difficulties
with the RSPCA. To conclude our taking of evidence, we heard further
evidence from the RSPCA and from the Minister for Nature Conservation
and Fisheries.
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