§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from equine welfare organisations on the tethering of horses; [75122]
(2) what assessment he has made of the welfare standards of the existing legislation on the tethering of horses; and if he will make a statement. [75120]
§ Mr. George HowarthWe have not received recent representations from equine welfare organisations about the tethering of horses.
The welfare of horses that are tethered is safeguarded by the general protection afforded by the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988. Additional protection is provided by the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
Under the 1911 Act, it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. The Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988 created a specific offence under the 1911 Act of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse by the manner of condition of its tethering. In addition, the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 makes it an offence to abandon a domestic or captive animal, whether or not permanently, without reasonable excuse and in circumstances likely to cause suffering.
§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in England during 1998 of individuals for their ill treatment of horses. [75121]
§ Mr. BoatengInformation held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database concerning offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 does not distinguish individual offences within the Act or identify the species of animal involved.