Animal Welfare: Horses

Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been initiated under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (a) in total and (b) in relation to alleged offences of excessive whipping of a racehorse; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Shaw
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in England on 6 April 2007 (and in Wales on 27 March 2007).

Court proceedings data for prosecutions under the Act for 2007 will be available this autumn. No separate record is maintained for alleged offences relating to racehorses.