8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the implementation of the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014? OAQ52135

Thank you. The regulations introduce stricter criteria for licensed breeders and have helped enforce our commitment to ensuring high welfare standards. We work with local authorities to monitor implementation of the regulations, and last year completed a data capture exercise on the enforcement of the staff-to-job ratio element. 

Thank you. Concerns are raised with me very frequently about the extent to which brazen and discriminatory puppy breeding is still ongoing in Wales. The regulations provide a means for responsible breeders to be registered, and for prosecutions to be undertaken against those who do not comply and risk the welfare of the animals in their care. In the recent prosecution of a lady from the Vale of Glamorgan—she claimed to be selling a particular breed but was, in fact, acting as a front for puppy farming. Of course, social media is a very useful vehicle for this industry to flourish. In this instance, she was selling more than 100 puppies, having advertised 266. The general health and animal welfare problems experienced by these dogs and puppies is absolute cruelty, yet only 38 prosecutions took place across Wales in 2015-16 under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Cabinet Secretary, what steps can you take to highlight this issue? More importantly, will you somehow look to ban this cruel and ruthless money making at the expense of these vulnerable animals? 

Thank you. This is an area where I'm working very closely with the RSPCA to ensure that the number of prosecutions is as high as possible when these cases are found. I am looking to bring forward a statement on animal welfare before the summer recess, so I will be able to say more on that issue then.

As has been exemplified by my colleague Simon Thomas earlier, the Welsh Government recently announced that it would allow Westminster powers to legislate in a number of areas returning from Brussels, one of which was certain powers relating to animal welfare. So, I was wondering whether you could clarify how you think that could impact upon planned legislation. I was wondering if you could plan speeding up any work that you're doing currently on animal abuse, cruelty and protection legislation, so that there is no uncertainty about what your capacity is in the future. Although I understand that the task and finish group on the animal abuse register is set to report in the coming months, I would not want it to be as long-winded as the constant delays to the wild animals in circuses. So, I would put an appeal out that we see progress on this before any legislative changes come about by other forces. 

Thank you. As we don't agree with your view on the issue, it won't have any impact on legislation or policy. I think we tweeted one another around the animal abuse register, and it will be reporting to me in July.