The Minister’s speech raised a number of issues and some of us have some brief questions to put to him. I am all for not wasting parliamentary time, but if he is able to briefly answer the questions while we are here, it might speed up the process next time.

The Minister’s speech raised a number of issues and some of us have some brief questions to put to him. I am all for not wasting parliamentary time, but if he is able to briefly answer the questions while we are here, it might speed up the process next time.

I accept that suggestion, and I wonder whether the Minister and his team will arrange a day for us to get together and sort out the nitty-gritty. That would help the Committee enormously. I do not think there are any objections to the other two sets of regulations, and I...

I accept that suggestion, and I wonder whether the Minister and his team will arrange a day for us to get together and sort out the nitty-gritty. That would help the Committee enormously. I do not think there are any objections to the other two sets of regulations, and I...

I have not heard any voices on the other two sets of regulations.

I have not heard any voices on the other two sets of regulations.

I declare my interest as an honorary associate of both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association. I have been, but am not currently, an owner of working dogs. I am speaking only to the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations 2007. The Minister cannot...

I declare my interest as an honorary associate of both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association. I have been, but am not currently, an owner of working dogs. I am speaking only to the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations 2007. The Minister cannot...

The noble Countess, Lady Mar, read out quite a number of examples of where she thought there was faulty drafting. I am not sure that I can follow her worry about people getting a friendly policeman to certify a dog, because the regulations state, "““where the dog is presented for...

The noble Countess, Lady Mar, read out quite a number of examples of where she thought there was faulty drafting. I am not sure that I can follow her worry about people getting a friendly policeman to certify a dog, because the regulations state, "““where the dog is presented for...

Perhaps we can have an assurance that they will be called separately at the end rather than en bloc.

Perhaps we can have an assurance that they will be called separately at the end rather than en bloc.

No. I will make one speech covering all three regulations. I will obviously be happy to reply to them separately.

No. I will make one speech covering all three regulations. I will obviously be happy to reply to them separately.

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations 2007. The noble Lord said: I am pleased to speak on three sets of regulations—the first relates to animal welfare—in one speech. Obviously, I will be...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations 2007. The noble Lord said: I am pleased to speak on three sets of regulations—the first relates to animal welfare—in one speech. Obviously, I will be...

We have not had a chance.

We have not had a chance.

Having heard what I said, if the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, wishes to withdraw his draft instrument, perhaps he could let us know. If not, we can go on with the debate and decide what do to then.

Having heard what I said, if the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, wishes to withdraw his draft instrument, perhaps he could let us know. If not, we can go on with the debate and decide what do to then.

But—

But—

I will give way. I arrive here as a humble servant of the House. I am here only because the Committee wishes it and I will do whatever is required. But my speech groups the regulations together. We can discuss them and I will be more than happy to answer...

I will give way. I arrive here as a humble servant of the House. I am here only because the Committee wishes it and I will do whatever is required. But my speech groups the regulations together. We can discuss them and I will be more than happy to answer...

Yes, without a doubt. All I am moving is that the Committee report that it has considered the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations, so we should consider that. It is one piece of legislation, but naturally I have one speech to cover all three sets of regulations, which...

Yes, without a doubt. All I am moving is that the Committee report that it has considered the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations, so we should consider that. It is one piece of legislation, but naturally I have one speech to cover all three sets of regulations, which...

That is the point. I do not want to pull one of the sets of regulations. It would be unfair for me to assume that there is unanimity on the other two sets of regulations because they are part of a package, and no one has had the opportunity to...

That is the point. I do not want to pull one of the sets of regulations. It would be unfair for me to assume that there is unanimity on the other two sets of regulations because they are part of a package, and no one has had the opportunity to...

That was a minor point. The major point is the drafting error.

That was a minor point. The major point is the drafting error.

The last thing I am in favour of is wasting Parliament’s time. I am in favour of doing everything that needs doing once, and I am not in favour of doing it twice. It is clear to me and my officials that we will have to do the job twice...

The last thing I am in favour of is wasting Parliament’s time. I am in favour of doing everything that needs doing once, and I am not in favour of doing it twice. It is clear to me and my officials that we will have to do the job twice...

It might help the Committee if I say that I am going to object to the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations, and it might be better if we took that one separately.

It might help the Committee if I say that I am going to object to the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations, and it might be better if we took that one separately.

I am happy to answer them separately, but this speech is one speech. I cannot tear out a page, although I can find the relevant paragraph, which might be in the middle of a page.

I am happy to answer them separately, but this speech is one speech. I cannot tear out a page, although I can find the relevant paragraph, which might be in the middle of a page.

Forgive me for seeking clarity. Will the Minister speak to all three regulations together? We assumed that they would be spoken to in the order in which they appear on the Order Paper.

Forgive me for seeking clarity. Will the Minister speak to all three regulations together? We assumed that they would be spoken to in the order in which they appear on the Order Paper.

Draft SI on Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Objection taken. Motion withdrawn. Debated with draft SIs on Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England), and Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (England). Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft SI on Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Objection taken. Motion withdrawn. Debated with draft SIs on Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England), and Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (England). Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.