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Farriers (Registration) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

The Farriers (Registration) Bill is a House of Commons private member’s bill introduced by Bryon Davies (Conservative MP for Gower), and sponsored in the House of Lords by the Earl of Caithness (Conservative). The Bill has completed all stages in the House of Commons and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 April 2017. The Bill is backed by the Government, who have drafted the Explanatory Notes which accompany it.

The purpose of the Bill is to make provision about the constitution of the Farriers Registration Council (FRC), and its committees. The FRC is the regulatory body for the farriery profession in Great Britain. Its statutory responsibilities, as provided for by the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, include to maintain a register of farriers; determine who is eligible for registration; and to regulate farriery training. Further, the FRC investigates and, where necessary, determines disciplinary cases through its statutory Investigating Committee, and its Disciplinary Committee.  The Bill would allow for the constitution of these bodies to be changed to reflect developments since the 1975 Act, and allow for future changes to be made through regulations rather than primary legislation. The Bill received cross-party support during its passage through the House of Commons.