All 1 Debates between Earl of Caithness and Lord Robathan

Tue 20th Jul 2021

Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]

Debate between Earl of Caithness and Lord Robathan
Lord Robathan Portrait Lord Robathan (Con)
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Perhaps my noble friend might list the constituents who wrote to him.

Earl of Caithness Portrait The Earl of Caithness (Con)
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My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his very full reply. He did comment on my amendment; I will have to read what he said in the Official Report, but towards the end, he said quite rightly that the remit of the animal sentience committee was across Whitehall. That includes the devolved Administrations. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission was set up specifically to look at how the welfare needs of sentient animals are being met by devolved policy. I am now unclear—perhaps my noble friend could help me—about how much of sentience is devolved and what exactly the committee will be able to do in the devolved countries. Will it be able to go to the Scotland Office and thus up to Holyrood, look at its policy and tell Scotland that it has to change its ways? I am not quite certain how this will work in practice. As this is Committee, it is an ideal time for my noble friend to explain the Bill a bit more to us.