Pupdates from Parliament
Catch up on the current Bills going through Parliament - September 2021

Glue Traps (Offences) Bill
A Bill to make certain uses of glue traps an offence
Sponsor: Jane Stevenson - Conservative Wolverhampton North East
Last updated: 18th June 2021
Current status: 2nd reading in the house of commons

Bills that are now Acts.

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021
Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 (“the 1953 Act”), where a dog attacks or chases livestock, or is at large in field of sheep, its owner and the person in charge of it at the time carried a maximum penalty of £1000.

The Act significantly increases that maximum penalty and enables the court to make orders in respect of persons convicted of the offence. It provides additional powers to the police during the investigation of the offence (including powers to seize dogs from land or premises and detain them for the purpose of evidence-gathering). The Act also extends to cover new livestock species and clarifies its application to working dogs. Finally, the Act alters the way the offence is described and defined so as to give greater prominence to the most serious instances.

The Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (Wales) Order 2021
Under section 8 of the Pests Act 1954 (c. 68), it is an offence to use or knowingly permit the use of any spring trap, other than a trap that has been approved by order, for animals or in circumstances for which it is not approved.
This Order adds a type of spring trap to those approved for use in Wales, namely, the Perdix Spring Trap (article 2(c)). It updates the address of Goodnature Ltd who manufacture traps and adds to the target species for which two of the traps previously approved may be used: Tthe Goodnature A24 Rat and Stoat Trap may now also be used for edible dormice (Glis glis) (article 2(b)), and the Tully Trap may now also be used for grey squirrels, where it is fitted with baffles for grey squirrels, in accordance with the conditions specified (article 2(d)).

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order.

Bills that failed

Bat Habitats Regulation Bill
A Bill to make provision to limit the protection for bat habitats in the built environment where the presence of bats has a significant adverse impact upon the users of buildings; and for connected purposes.
Sponsor: Sir Christopher Chope, Conservative, Christchurch
Last updated: 4th May 2021
Current status: Failed at 2nd reading in the House of Commons

Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill
A Bill to establish rights to keep dogs and other animals in domestic accommodation; to make provision about the protection of the welfare of dogs and other domestic animals.
Sponsor: Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford
Last updated: 4th May 2021
Current status: Failed at 2nd reading in the House of Commons

Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill
A Bill to prohibit the import, export, purchase and sale of fur and fur products
Sponsor: Taiwo Owatemi, Labour, Coventry North West
Last updated: 4th May 2021
Current status: Failed at 1st reading in the House of Commons