To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects legislation amending the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to allow the fitting of patagial tags by non-veterinarians to come into force. (262901)

DEFRA is in the final stages of producing an exemption order under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to permit non-veterinarians to wing and web tag non-farmed birds for conservation and research purposes. We hope that the new legislation will be in force within the next couple of months.