Animal Welfare Bill

It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone), with whom I very much agree. I wish to stick to a specific matter in the Bill. I congratulate the Government on introducing a very good welfare Bill, but I should also like to comment on the fact that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Derek Conway) said, the RSPCA is not the only organisation that is worried about the welfare of animals. I have received a representation in my constituency from Mr. Andrew Meads, who runs Safe Wings. That unusual organisation protects wild birds, and injured birds are brought to the sanctuary from miles around. They are housed and rehabilitated before being released into the wild. Unfortunately, the Bill was not designed to take that unusual project into account, which may well have to close because of the licensing arrangements. Mr. Meads is concerned that unless there is a light regulatory touch that wonderful bird sanctuary will have to close. I hope that that will be considered in the other place. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.