§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether she plans to introduce provisions on the use of bits and specs for game birds in the Animal Welfare Bill; [144529]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of companies which use bits on game birds; [144531]
(3) if she will make a statement on the (a) costs and (b) benefits of employing specs on game birds to minimise bird-on-bird aggression and egg-eating. [144532]
§ Mr. BradshawOne of the opportunities provided by the proposed Animal Welfare Bill would be the possibility of introducing codes of practice, including a code on the rearing of gamebirds, which would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The codes would support a statutory duty to promote the welfare of animals kept by man. The code on gamebirds would better regulate the methods, including bits and specs, used in rearing. It is not known how many companies currently use bits and what the costs and benefits of employing specs are.
1027W
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to address mistreatment of game birds. [144530]
§ Mr. BradshawGamebirds are afforded protection under the Game (Scotland) Act 1772, the Game Act 1831, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, Protection of Animals Act (Scotland) 1912 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The proposed Animal Welfare Bill provides an opportunity to modernise the law as far as gamebird rearing in England and Wales is concerned.