To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) convictions and (b) prosecutions there have been under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, broken down by offence; and if he will make a statement. (174483)

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in Wales on 27 March and in England on 6 April 2007. The figures for convictions and prosecutions for offences under the Act will not be available until the latter half of 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to bring forward secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on (a) pet fairs, (b) wild animals in circuses, (c) cats, (d) dogs, (e) pet shops, (f) game birds, (g) animal boarding, (h) tethering of horses, (i) riding schools, (j) livery yards, (k) animal sanctuaries and (l) performing animals; and if he will make a statement. (174484)

During the Animal Welfare Act's passage through Parliament it became clear that hon. Members and peers wanted to give priority to a number of issues on which a commitment had been given for secondary legislation and/or codes of practice. These were wild animal acts in circuses, the welfare of racing greyhounds, pet fairs, the keeping of gamebirds, cats and dogs and non-human primates as pets. We anticipate introducing regulations and codes for these during the next three years, although following the publication of the recent report into the use of wild animal acts in circuses, it is necessary to give further thought as to how this matter is taken forward.

The Government remain committed to regulating animal boarding, livery yards, animal sanctuaries and performing animals as soon as possible subject to available resources.

I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 November 2007, Official Report, column 610W.