To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes have been made to (a) regulations and (b) guidelines on the operation of animal snares over the last five years. (260374)

[holding answer 4 March 2009]: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in England on 6 April 2007. This Act contains strong protection for animals under the control of man to help prevent unnecessary suffering, and covers any animal held in a snare.

Following an informal consultation on snares and traps and their use carried out in 2003, DEFRA convened an Independent Snares Working Group chaired by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. In October 2005 we published the working group’s report together with the DEFRA Snares Action Plan and the DEFRA Code of Good Practice on the use of Snares in Fox and Rabbit Control in England.

The DEFRA Code of Good Practice provides guidance on responsible use of snares.