Animal Welfare Bill

moved Amendment No. 16:"After Clause 5, insert the following new clause—" ““CRUEL OPERATIONS (1)   A person commits an offence if he performs an operation on a protected animal without due care and humanity. (2)   A person (““person A””) who is responsible for an animal commits an offence if— (a)   another person performs an operation on the animal without due care and humanity, and (b)   person A— (i)   permits that to happen, or (ii)   fails to take such steps (whether by way of supervising the other person or otherwise) as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent that happening. (3)   This section is subject to the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954 (c. 46).”” The noble Baroness said: Clause 5 provides for regulations to be made with regard to mutilation. The proposed new clause in my amendment deals with cruel operations and takes a wider approach. I have tabled the amendment because there is such a clause in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill, and I simply wish to ask the Minister why it was not considered necessary in the Bill before us. I beg to move.