asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to introduce legislation to ensure that in future people who are convicted of ill-treating livestock will be banned from keeping livestock for a certain period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cruelty to Livestock.
29.
I am satisfied that the penalties provided under existing legislation for convictions in respect of cruelty to livestock are adequate and that the addition of a ban on the keeping of livestock would not be warranted.
The penalties for cruelty offences were increased last year and now consist of a maximum fine of £500 and a three months prison term for a first or second offence. For a third or subsequent offence the fine is the same but the maximum prison sentence is increased to six months. In addition, under the relevant legislation, the court is empowered to deprive an owner convicted of cruelty of those animals in relation to which the offence was committed.