§ Mr. Lomasasked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister solely responsible for animal welfare.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that there would be any advantage in doing this. The present arrangements for 207W co-ordination in animal welfare matters between Departments work well.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Prime Minister which Departments are at present concerned in any way with animals.
§ The Prime MinisterThere is a number of Departments which are concerned in one way or another with animals since departmental responsibility is in general assigned on a functional basis. But the main Departments with responsibility for animal matters are the Agricultural Departments in relation to livestock kept for agricultural purposes and animal health matters, the Department of the Environment in relation to the scientific conservation of wildlife generally, and the Home Office which has a general responsibility for the protection of nonagricultural animals from cruelty.