RSPCA (Prosecutions) Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Attorney General

RSPCA (Prosecutions)

Bob Russell Excerpts
Tuesday 29th January 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Westminster Hall
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.

Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My hon. Friend makes a valuable point, and I would love to be able to quote one or two RSPCA regional officers who have mentioned to me their frustration at being underfunded while reading in the papers of enormous sums being spent on cases in which the animal welfare benefit achieved is doubtful.

Bob Russell Portrait Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)
- Hansard - -

Is the hon. Gentleman saying the RSPCA should not be involved in prosecutions? If not the RSPCA, who would do it?

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

No, I am not saying that. As I will say later, the manner in which the RSPCA goes about its prosecutions needs to be more in line with the relationship between, for example, the CPS and the police: it need not be the closed shop it currently is.