§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to provide a minimum banning order of five years for those convicted under the Protection of Animals Act 1911;
(2) if he will conduct a study of the range of times for which banning orders have been applied by the courts under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.
§ Mr. Charles WardleMinimum sentences are not in general a feature of the criminal justice system in this country. It is for the courts, subject to the maximum penalty prescribed by Parliament and in the light of all the relevant factors, to decide upon the appropriate penalty in an individual case.
My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to initiate a study of the courts' use of their power under the 1911 Act to disqualify an offender from having custody of an animal.