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Animal Welfare Bill

I presume that is the case, but I will take advice. These are new offences, and local authorities would probably be told by their solicitors that they had no power or authority to prosecute under existing legislation because they had not been given any powers. By and large, local authorities can do only what Parliament allows them to do. I think that is basically correct. I am not a lawyer, but I have got the message. On the other hand, many local authorities think that they should be able to do anything that they want unless Parliament stops them but, in fact, the system is the other way around. Their duties are those given by Parliament.