WORK OF THE RSPCA

Early day motion 135, tabled 12 July 2001 by Lord Cryer (Labour). Signed by 72 members.

That this House supports the work of the RSPCA and its call for the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to be updated; notes that the Act is the most widely used piece of legislation under which the RSPCA prosecutes offences of animal cruelty and that in 1999 2,364 convictions were obtained under the Act; calls for the creation of an offence of 'likely to cause unnecessary suffering' which would enable inspectors to intervene to help domestic pets and other animals kept in unacceptable conditions; further calls for a definition of suffering to include pain and/or impairment of an animal's natural physical, social or emotional development', in order to protect animals from being tethered without access to shelter, food or water, also calls for clarification of police powers to obtain a warrant to enter premises if they reasonably suspect cruelty, so as to address the current problem whereby police have to obtain permission from the owner to enter premises where they believe an animal is suffering; and further calls for new powers to confiscate suffering animals and for clarification of disqualification orders.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Labour/Co-operative 7, Liberal Democrat 5, Plaid Cymru 2.