Jenny Riddell-Carpenter

I congratulate the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes) on securing this really important debate, and I thank him for the thoughtful way in which he has set out these issues. I also thank other hon. Members who have contributed. I pay tribute to Annette Bramley, who joins us in the Gallery and who has campaigned tirelessly in memory of her daughter Holly. Holly’s case is a deeply distressing reminder that cruelty towards animals can form part of a wider pattern of coercion, control and domestic abuse. As the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings mentioned, he and Annette met the former Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls earlier this year to discuss their proposals. I understand that those were very constructive discussions, and I am glad to hear that. I also note his recent request to continue this important conversation with Government Ministers. With that in mind, I am pleased to be able to set out the Government’s position today. Let me start by saying that the Government take the issues of animal cruelty and domestic abuse extremely seriously. As we have heard this evening, evidence shows that there is a strong link between pet abuse and domestic abuse. That is why the Government are working to take forward specific actions relating to this issue as part of our violence against women and girls strategy and our animal welfare strategy. I will touch on those important actions in further detail later. Let me turn to the proposed animal abuse register. I understand why there is public support for this idea and the reassurance that it is intended to provide, but it is important to say that systems are already in place to both record and share this type of information when it is right to do so. Convictions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are recorded on the police national computer, and enforcement bodies such as the police and local authorities have access to that information. There are also established disclosure mechanisms that allow the police to share relevant information with those who need it. That means that relevant information can be used where it is needed for licensing, safeguarding and public protection. The more effective approach is targeted disclosure, ensuring that relevant information is shared lawfully, proportionately and with the appropriate bodies at the right time.