Clause 47 agreed to. Amendment 120 to schedule 5 negatived on division (6 to 9). Schedule 5 agreed to. Clause 48, discussed with Government new clause 2 (Concurrent functions in Wales), agreed to as amended. Clause 49 disagreed to. Clause 50 agreed to as amended. Clause 51, discussed with Government new clause 1 (Animal Welfare Act 2006: minor amendments), Government new clause 5 (Taking of dog without lawful authority etc.) and Government new clause 6 (Power to extend section (Taking of dog without lawful authority etc)), agreed to as amended. Clause 52 agreed to as amended. Clause 53 agreed to. New clause 1 (Animal Welfare Act 2006: minor amendments) agreed to. New clause 2 (Concurrent functions in Wales) agreed to. New clause 3 (Regulations) agreed to. New clause 5 (Taking of dog without lawful authority etc) agreed to. New clause 6 (Power to extend section (Taking of dog without lawful authority etc)) agreed to. New clause 7 (Prohibition of Sow farrowing stalls) negatived on division (5 to 10). New clause 8 (Review of compensation for livestock owners in cases of livestock worrying) debated and withdrawn. New clause 10 (Regulation of the keeping of hunting dogs), discussed with new clause 11 (Hunting dog welfare: review and consultation), new clause 12 (Ban on the use of a dog below ground in the course of stalking or flushing out), and new clause 13 (Removal of exemption of hounds under the Road Traffic Act), negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 14 (Commercial movement of pregnant cats and dogs) negatived on division (7 to 9). New clause 15 (Sale of dogs with cropped ears) debated and withdrawn. New clause 16 (Snare traps) negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 17 (Regulation of online animal sales) debated and withdrawn.

Clause 47 agreed to. Amendment 120 to schedule 5 negatived on division (6 to 9). Schedule 5 agreed to. Clause 48, discussed with Government new clause 2 (Concurrent functions in Wales), agreed to as amended. Clause 49 disagreed to. Clause 50 agreed to as amended. Clause 51, discussed with Government...

Clauses 20 and 21 agreed to, with clause 21 agreed to as amended. Clause 22, discussed with government new clause 3 (Regulations), agreed to as amended. Clause 23 disagreed to. Clauses 24 to 37 agreed to, with clauses 24 and 25 agreed to as amended. Clause 38 disagreed to. Amendment 90 to clause 39 negatived on division (6 to 9). Amendment 89 to clause 39 negatived on division (6 to 9). Clauses 39 to 44 agreed to, with clauses 40, 42, 43 and 44 agreed to as amended. Amendment 1 to clause 45 negatived on division (8 to 8), following the Chair's casting vote. Clause 45 agreed to as amended. Amendment 2 to clause 46 negatived on division (8 to 8), following Chair's casting vote. Amendment 118 to clause 46 negatived on division (8 to 8), following Chair's casting vote. Clause 46, discussed with new clause 14 (Commercial movement of pregnant cats and dogs), new clause 18 (Prohibition on importation of cats and dogs with fashion-based mutilations), new clause 24 (Healthcare requirements for imported cats and dogs) and new clause 25 (Imported cats and dogs: rabies vaccination), agreed to as amended. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clauses 20 and 21 agreed to, with clause 21 agreed to as amended. Clause 22, discussed with government new clause 3 (Regulations), agreed to as amended. Clause 23 disagreed to. Clauses 24 to 37 agreed to, with clauses 24 and 25 agreed to as amended. Clause 38 disagreed to. Amendment...

Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported to the House.

Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported to the House.

Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

This Bill is the second that the Government are bringing forward concerning the welfare of animals, and its scope relates to the keeping of animals in Great Britain. We are a proud nation of animal lovers, and we...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

This Bill is the second that the Government are bringing forward concerning the welfare of animals, and its scope relates to the keeping of animals in Great Britain. We are a proud nation of animal lovers, and we...

I very much welcome the ban on the live export of animals for slaughter. However, I want to ensure that livestock and breeding stock can come in and out of the country without hindrance. Is the Secretary of State confident, as he brings in that ban, that we can keep...

I very much welcome the ban on the live export of animals for slaughter. However, I want to ensure that livestock and breeding stock can come in and out of the country without hindrance. Is the Secretary of State confident, as he brings in that ban, that we can keep...

My hon. Friend raises an important point. That is why the Bill relates specifically to animals for fattening and slaughter; it does not include animals for breeding. The Government’s view is that exporting animals for slaughter and fattening is unnecessary; indeed, such journeys are unnecessarily stressful for the animals concerned....

My hon. Friend raises an important point. That is why the Bill relates specifically to animals for fattening and slaughter; it does not include animals for breeding. The Government’s view is that exporting animals for slaughter and fattening is unnecessary; indeed, such journeys are unnecessarily stressful for the animals concerned....

I am conscious of how much puppy prices have increased, particularly during the pandemic. While I welcome the reduction to five pets per person, I am a little concerned that if they were five high-value puppies, that may be still be worth a criminal’s while. Will the Secretary of State...

I am conscious of how much puppy prices have increased, particularly during the pandemic. While I welcome the reduction to five pets per person, I am a little concerned that if they were five high-value puppies, that may be still be worth a criminal’s while. Will the Secretary of State...

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We have an important balance to strike. Obviously, these rules are for non-commercial pets, and there are people who may have several dogs that they travel with. We are trying to strike the balance such that we ensure that we do not have...

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We have an important balance to strike. Obviously, these rules are for non-commercial pets, and there are people who may have several dogs that they travel with. We are trying to strike the balance such that we ensure that we do not have...

I am a member of the zoos and aquariums all-party parliamentary group, which is concerned about what the regulations may look like. Is there a timescale for when they are likely to be brought forward, or even a first draft, so there can be adequate consultation?

I am a member of the zoos and aquariums all-party parliamentary group, which is concerned about what the regulations may look like. Is there a timescale for when they are likely to be brought forward, or even a first draft, so there can be adequate consultation?

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I understand that we are already in discussion with zoos about this change. We will work very closely with them, through the working group, which has already looked at it and recommended it. I recognise that some zoos have anxiety about what it...

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I understand that we are already in discussion with zoos about this change. We will work very closely with them, through the working group, which has already looked at it and recommended it. I recognise that some zoos have anxiety about what it...

My party has been the party of animal welfare for quite some time, and we welcome the fact that many of the policies in Labour’s animal welfare manifesto have found themselves in the Bill. That is good to see. It is also good to see the Secretary of State in...

My party has been the party of animal welfare for quite some time, and we welcome the fact that many of the policies in Labour’s animal welfare manifesto have found themselves in the Bill. That is good to see. It is also good to see the Secretary of State in...

May I remind the hon. Gentleman that the sanctuary in my constituency is called Wild Futures? He seemed to have forgotten the name, although he has visited it. Can he explain why he is not sticking to the subject of the Bill, but rather making disparaging remarks, which are completely...

May I remind the hon. Gentleman that the sanctuary in my constituency is called Wild Futures? He seemed to have forgotten the name, although he has visited it. Can he explain why he is not sticking to the subject of the Bill, but rather making disparaging remarks, which are completely...

I am always cautious when I compliment the hon. Lady, and hope she receives it warmly. I trust she will when I next mention her campaigns. Wild Futures is a great place, and the expertise that I saw on show was exceptional. It is not the only place in the...

I am always cautious when I compliment the hon. Lady, and hope she receives it warmly. I trust she will when I next mention her campaigns. Wild Futures is a great place, and the expertise that I saw on show was exceptional. It is not the only place in the...

I understand what you say, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I will contain my remarks to this Bill, but I hope that any whipping and voting on amendments in future will be cognisant of public opinion. On animal welfare, there is strong support for ending the keeping of primates as pets—not...

I understand what you say, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I will contain my remarks to this Bill, but I hope that any whipping and voting on amendments in future will be cognisant of public opinion. On animal welfare, there is strong support for ending the keeping of primates as pets—not...

It is a pleasure to speak on Second Reading of this Bill. I welcome what the Secretary of State had to say, and I welcome what the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), has said, except perhaps for one or two comments...

It is a pleasure to speak on Second Reading of this Bill. I welcome what the Secretary of State had to say, and I welcome what the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), has said, except perhaps for one or two comments...

I broadly support the overall aims of the Bill—I am keen to see increased animal welfare across the country and am glad that the Government share that ambition—but of course the devil is in the detail. My speech will focus on just a few areas.

First, the Bill’s attempts to tackle...

I broadly support the overall aims of the Bill—I am keen to see increased animal welfare across the country and am glad that the Government share that ambition—but of course the devil is in the detail. My speech will focus on just a few areas.

First, the Bill’s attempts to tackle...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion). I know how committed she is to animal welfare, and she made some very good points, particularly on animal testing and zoos.

The Bill will make a real difference to the lives of animals across our country. It...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion). I know how committed she is to animal welfare, and she made some very good points, particularly on animal testing and zoos.

The Bill will make a real difference to the lives of animals across our country. It...

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

My hon. Friend knows that zoo all too well. When I went there, I was able to see for myself how a “mammoth” bank of 30,000 thermal images taken of UK zoo elephants is directly contributing to conserving their wild counterparts. This groundbreaking work, completely dependent on zoo-based research, has...

My hon. Friend knows that zoo all too well. When I went there, I was able to see for myself how a “mammoth” bank of 30,000 thermal images taken of UK zoo elephants is directly contributing to conserving their wild counterparts. This groundbreaking work, completely dependent on zoo-based research, has...