Memorandum submitted by Game Farmers'
Association
1. The Game Farmers' Association welcomes
the Westminster Animal Welfare Bill.
2. The Government made very clear in writing
when the Bill was published its intention that the Bill should
not affect shooting. (eg: press and public briefing on the Defra
website).
3. The accompanying papers published with
the Bill also make clear that secondary provisions on game rearing
will be assisted by the existing and widely respected GFA Code
of Practice.
4. We note and welcome that as a result,
the Government estimates the cost to game rearers of any new regulations
as "negligible". (Regulatory Impact Assessment).
5. We still have some concern that although
there is no policy intention to restrict shooting, some clauses
in the Bill, in combination, might inadvertently restrict gamebird
releasing. Defra has assured us that their lawyers believe this
is not the case but we will nonetheless be looking for Ministerial
assurances on these detailed points during the passage of the
Bill.
6. We also have concerns that the considerable
powers of inspectors made under the Bill could, in the wrong hands,
be used to make mischief. We will be asking for the guidance on
their appointment approved by the Secretary of State (Clause 45(2)
to be extended to ensure that such inspectors are appropriately
trained, qualified and conduct themselves in a fair and reasonable
way.
November 2005
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