To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account his Department will take of the recommendations from the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the welfare of farmed game birds in its preparation of a code of practice on the rearing and breeding of game birds. (244155)

DEFRA is in the process of setting up a working group to draft a code of practice, to be made under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, which will offer guidance to owners and keepers on how to meet their statutory responsibility to provide for the welfare needs of their animals.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council opinion on certain management techniques will help to inform the working group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to include farmed game birds under the protection offered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. (244164)

Game birds reared for sporting purposes, prior to their release, are already covered by the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”), as they are animals under the control of man.