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Tail Docking

Volume 454: debated on Tuesday 5 December 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will set up a working party on tail docking when the consultation is completed. (106399)

There are no plans to set up such a group. We intend to lay the regulations before Parliament immediately after the consultation responses have been considered. This is to ensure that they are brought into force in line with section six of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which bans tail docking with an exemption for working dogs.

The main principles of the ban on tail docking were thoroughly debated in Parliament and decided by a free vote of hon. Members during the passage of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The regulations will be made via the affirmative procedure and will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny in both Houses.