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Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

Of course the prevention of the death of other birds is urgent, but it is not as urgent as stopping the present suffering of an animal. That is the issue that the Government’s draft animal welfare Bill seeks to address. A few moments ago I was trying to think of the new jargon for pet and it is, of course, a companion animal. Perhaps I should stick to ““pet””. In any case, the Government have not convinced us that it is necessary to have wide-ranging powers to deal with one issue when they do not propose to introduce those powers to address far wider problems in the animal welfare Bill. I could argue that point further, but I have made the principal points of concern and confirm that we wish to press the matter to a Division.