1. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on work to establish an animal abuse register in Wales? (OAQ51033)

Diolch. The first meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Cymru’s task and finish group to consider the establishment of an animal offender register will take place on 28 September. Interim findings will be submitted to officials before Easter recess, with final findings and recommendations to follow before summer recess 2018.

Thank you for that update. You said in your response that it was the RSPCA’s task and finish group. I just wanted to confirm whether you are going to be including other organisations on this task and finish group, and taking evidence from those involved in the area who have been working—with no intention to undermine the RSPCA, but a number of groups have been lobbying for this animal abuse register. Would you include them as part of this discussion?

I see that the Welsh Government is looking into a domestic register. Are you going to discuss these two things together? Because you will recall from previous questions from me, these themes do crosscut and, therefore, I would’ve thought it would’ve been an idea for you to take joint action here, rather than working in separation.

No. The Member will be aware—. Obviously, I think you started getting this back on to the agenda with the short debate that you had, and I thought the establishment of such a register was very worthy of further attention. And then RSPCA Cymru produced a briefing document, and they made a case for it also, and they offered to lead on the establishment of a task and finish group. But, you’re quite right: it won’t just be the RSPCA. I have agreed the terms of reference for the group, around the outputs and the timeline. However, the membership hasn’t been agreed. But, you’re absolutely right: it will include other stakeholders and partners. And even on the membership of the group, I’m sure, outside of that membership, we will need to have discussions with other stakeholders and organisations as well.

The point you make around domestic abuse—absolutely. The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children and I have already had a meeting around this, and, as the work progresses over the next few months, we will continue to have discussions.

Cabinet Secretary, as you know, I’m also a supporter of introducing an animal abuse register, and I look forward to hearing more about its development as it happens. Of course, one of the biggest obstacles facing the register will be determining whether youth offenders will be registered, and perhaps you could tell us what the Welsh Government’s initial position is on this issue. As I’m sure you’ll agree, the register must have a constructive and not a destructive impact on youth offenders, many of whom can be vulnerable young people.

Absolutely. We haven’t got into that detail on our discussions yet. But, as I say, as we go over the next few months, I’m sure those discussions with Carl Sargeant and myself will increase.