§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure the permanent quarters of performing animals are brought within the scope of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981; [99126]
(2) if he will bring performing animal centres within the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981; and if he will make a statement. [99125]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThese are matters being considered by the Home Office in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, following receipt of recommendations from the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare about animals in circuses.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require suppliers of exotic pets to provide written information to customers concerning housing and care for certain threatened species. [99127]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) requires any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by their local authority under such conditions as may be specified.
The Government have no plan to introduce an explicit legal requirement that suppliers of exotic pets should provide written information to customers concerning housing and care for such animals. The welfare of exotic animals kept as pets is, however, provided for under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, under which it is an offence to ill-treat or cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal.
It is widely accepted that it is good practice for pet shops to give customers advice on how to care for their animals. The Pet Care Trust (the organisation for the pet trade) include, as part of their Code of Practice for Retailers, a requirement that pet care leaflets should be made available to customers, where appropriate, at the time of purchase.
Trade in endangered species is strictly controlled by the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Under CITES, welfare requirements must be satisfied before any threatened species will be allowed to enter the country. Subsequent movements of such animals are also controlled.
76W
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the increased numbers of cruelty convictions against pet shops over the last year; and if he will make it his policy to introduce a more robust and comprehensive inspection and licensing regime. [99128]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere has been a two per cent. increase in the latest available statistics for cruelty convictions under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, but it is not possible to identify the incidence of such cases involving pet shops.
There are no plans to amend the Pet Animals Act 1951, by which pet shops are inspected and licensed by local authorities, and under which conditions are imposed relating to standards of welfare of animals kept in pet shops. Enforcement of the legislation is entirely for local authorities, who have the range of powers needed to detect cruelty and bring prosecutions when appropriate.
The provisions of the 1951 Act, together with the Protection of Animals Act 1911, under which it is an offence to cause any domestic or captive animal unnecessary suffering, provide adequate protection for animals in pet shops.