HL Deb 27 October 2004 vol 665 cc1339-40

(1) The registrar may cancel an individual registration, or remove an individual from a group registration, if the individual is convicted of an offence under—

  1. (a) this Act,
  2. (b) the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (c. 27)
  3. (c) the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 (c. 14),
    4. 1340
  4. (d)section 2 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (c. 51).
  5. (e) the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (c. 3),
  6. (f) the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 6).

(2) The registrar shall notify an individual in respect of whom the registrar has taken action under subsection (1)."

The noble Lord said: The amendment lists the Acts under which a conviction of an offence may lead to the registrar deregistering an individual, either from an individual registration or a group registration. The amendment consists of text from the original "Alun Michael" Bill introduced in December 2002, and changes made in Standing Committee in the House of Commons.

The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Elton)

Before the noble Lord moves the amendment, would he tell us whether he is also speaking to the other amendments in the group?

Lord Mancroft

Yes, I am. Amendment No. 42 sets out the general deregistration process and is identical to the original government Bill as introduced in December 2002. Amendment No. 44 is also made up of the original text of the government Bill. It ensures that when a person is deregistered, either under an individual or group registration, he cannot be retrospectively prosecuted, nor can others on a group registration, for hunting previously carried out tinder their respective registrations.

Under Amendment No. 48, a person found guilty of an offence under the Bill is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. When a person is convicted of an offence, it must be noted by the registrar, as must any qualifications made under the clause relevant to disqualification of registration, contained in Amendment No. 49. I beg to move.

Baroness Mallalieu

The wording of Amendment No. 49 is identical to that of the original government Bill introduced in December 2002. It deals with disqualification from registration. As before, if any Member of the Committee has questions about disqualification for registration, I shall try to answer them.

Lord Whitty

The noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, has made it clear that the amendments are in line with the original Bill, with the exception of Amendment No. 41, which changes the list of animal welfare organisations and which was agreed on by consensus in Committee in another place.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Lord Mancroft moved Amendments Nos. 42 to 46:

After Clause 5, insert the following new clause—