HL Deb 30 April 1975 vol 359 cc1246-8

2.37 p.m.

Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what preparations they are making to commemorate the centenary of the passing of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

None, my Lords.

Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBY

My Lords, while acknowledging that unimaginative reply, may I ask my noble friend to take into account another occasion which might be celebrated; namely, the fact that 10 years ago this month, the Littlewood Committee reported? Little or nothing has been done regarding that Report. May I ask my noble friend to take into account a practical suggestion to commemorate both events; namely, to support the Motion that I have today put on the Order Paper for the appointment of a Select Committee of this House to consider the law and the administration of the Act of 1876?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I will take into account what my noble friend has said. I would remind your Lordships that the Explosives Act was passed in 1875 and has its centenary this year, but I do not think that we ought to be celebrating that. In 1879 we passed the Habitual Drunkards Act. I do not think that we should be celebrating that in 1979; but I will take into account what my noble friend has said.

Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBY

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. May I ask him whether we could celebrate all these events together? If my noble friend can think of nothing else, perhaps he could distribute white gloves to the 16,000 licence-holders and commemorate the fact that an Act of Parliament has stood for 100 years without amendment and without a single prosecution for infringement.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, if I may be serious for a moment, the Littlewood Committee reported—as my noble friend said—in 1965. They thought the aim of legislation in the field of animal welfare should be to prevent objectionable activities, to encourage humane practices and to provide for accountability to the public of all concerned. It is felt, rightly or wrongly, that this Act —and the Littlewood Committee subscribed to this—has been effective, partly because it has commanded the support of those subject to it and partly because the Home Office have adopted a wide interpretation in insisting on humane standards and conscientious administration of the law. The Advisory Committee has recently been enlarged to the extent of four members, and if my noble friend has any comment to make he might well decide to use the Advisory Committee as a means of drawing attention to any matter.

Lord ROYLE

My Lords, despite the fact that we are all very concerned about animal welfare, would not my noble friend agree that there are still a few things that need to be done for human beings?

Lord PLATT

My Lords, while accepting most of what the noble Lord has said, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that there is tremendous public concern over this matter and that there really are many things which need tidying up in the law on the lines of the Committee's recommendations? Would not the noble Lord agree that it is time something was done?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I think Her Majesty's Government would be in substantial agreement with what the noble Lord has said. I believe that it was the noble Lord who drew your Lordships' attention to the fact that the Advisory Committee consisted in the main of medical and scientific personnel. This has, to some extent, been improved by the addition of four lay people. I suggest that we must give the Advisory Committee some further opportunity, in view of its new composition, to look at matters which are exercising the minds not only of your Lordships but of a large number of people outside your Lordships' House.

Lord PLATT

My Lords, as a member of the Advisory Committee on this subject to the Home Office, I do not remember that we were ever charged with the duty of considering whether the law was right or whether it should be amended.

A Noble Lord: Question!

Lord PLATT

My Lords, we were charged only with the duty of looking at certain applications.