To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have (a) taken in the last 12 months and (b) plan to take in the next two years to protect (i) horses, (ii) ponies and (iii) donkeys from the effects of cruel tethering; who his Department consulted prior to seeking the repeal of the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988; and if he will make a statement. (273892)

The Protection of Cruel Tethering Act 1988 was repealed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 as part of the Government’s policy to consolidate and modernise a number of pieces of animal welfare legislation. My Department consulted all the main animal welfare and equine groups as part of the consultation we held on the Animal Welfare Bill in January 2002. An analysis of the replies to that consultation can be found on the DEFRA website.

At the end of last year, DEFRA completed a public consultation exercise on a code of practice for the welfare of equines. All the main equine animal welfare groups were consulted on the code. The draft code covers all domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, and hybrids (including mules), and includes specific guidance on tethering. Once we have considered the responses to the consultation, we will then ask Parliament to approve a revised code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received since 2006 on the repeal of the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988; and if he will make a statement. (273893)

We have received no such representations.