§ Mr. Corbettasked the Prime Minister if he has reviewed the arrangements for the Government to receive independent advice on animal welfare matters; and what conclusions he has reached.
§ The Prime MinisterYes. The Government share the growing concern about the treatment of animals and have decided to set up a council for animal 719W welfare to maintain an oversight in this matter and to advise the Government.
The council will have the power to review existing legislation and recommend legislative or other action on any animal welfare matter and to propose improvements in the existing advisory machinery.
That machinery includes the farm animal welfare advisory committee and the advisory committee on the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, which is soon to be reconstituted with new terms of reference. In addition, the Government are appointing a new advisory committee on the transport of farm animals.
The council for animal welfare, which will have its own independent chairman, will comprise the chairmen of these three committees, which will constitute its standing committees, together with a number of additional independent members.
A further announcement about the council's composition and terms of reference will be made as soon as possible.