Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 24 October (HL Deb, col 836) referring to the announcement on 30 September by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that HM Government will increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty from the current six months’ imprisonment to five years’ imprisonment, and stating that they will publish a draft bill later this year, whether they intend to propose that that draft bill be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny.

Government announced on 30 September its intention to increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences from the current six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine to 5 years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The policy was agreed by the relevant Cabinet committee. The announcement made clear we hope to publish draft legislation for consultation around the turn of the year.