Animal Welfare Bill

My hon. Friend is entirely right and I am very conscious of the fact that this issue was raised during the Select Committee’s discussions, to which he was doubtless party. This is a classic example of why we want such flexibility in the Bill. The Government take the view—perhaps to his regret—that the scientific evidence on this issue is currently insufficiently strong. But should stronger evidence become available, it is important that we can act, which is part of the reason for approaching the legislation in this way.