§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any intention of seeking to repeal the Horse Breeding Act 1958; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerIt has been argued that the Act has outlived its usefulness and should be repealed. However, as my right hon. Friend pointed out in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 10 December—[Vol. 14, c. 494–95]—we have instituted consultations with representative horse organisations and veterinary bodies about alternative stallion licensing arrangements under the Act which would be more in keeping with the needs of the horse breeding industry today and would streamline the administration, so making financial savings. The ideas which have emerged in the course of these consultations will shortly be finalised as firm proposals for discussion. If it is not possible to reach a consensus based on these proposals, I believe that there would be considerable support for repealing the Act.