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Animal Welfare Bill

My Lords, I thank the Minister for clarifying the point. I am sure we had all taken it for granted that the Government do not currently intend to make it increasingly difficult for hill farmers. The worry in my mind is whether, given the wording of the legislation, some future judgment might be made that what is done, such as a shepherd finding a lamb over a week old and castrating it on the hill, causes unnecessary suffering. As the Minister says, it is short-term suffering but for a much greater benefit. We will take this away and think about it further. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 6 [Docking of dogs’ tails]: