§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has signed a written agreement with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to allow them to perform the functions of an approved prosecutor under Section 1 (3) (e) of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 2000. This Act supplements the Protection of Animals Act 1911, by allowing a magistrates court to make an order relating to the temporary care or for the disposal, sale or slaughter of animals kept for commercial purposes that are the subject of a prosecution brought under the 1911 Act by a prosecutor. The agreement with the RSPCA will take effect from 1 September 2004 and will apply to England only. Copies of the model agreement have been deposited in the Libraries. The model agreement and associated guidance notes can also be found on Defra's website at:www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/on-farm/.htm.