§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update and increase as appropriate the penalties for offences of animal abuse in the relevant legislation from 1822 to 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe maximum penalties available to the courts for offences in legislation relating to animal abuse for which my right hon. and learned Friend, the Home Secretary, is responsible are kept under regular review. However, the Government have no plans at present to increase existing penalty levels.
Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the monetary values of the levels on the standard scale of fines for offences tried in magistrates courts, which will include many animal abuse offences, were uprated from 1 October 1992.