Farron calls for fairness in Animals Act

11.16.20am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Local MP Tim Farron is to support the Private Member's Bill to amend The Animals Act 1971 for a fairer deal for animal owners. The Bill which is having its second reading this Friday directly addresses the issue of rising costs of insurance for owners of cattle and horses.

The 1971 Act failed to differentiate between animals which are likely to cause damage, and the animals in which this behaviour cannot be predicted. As a result of the 1971 Act the price of insurance has been pushed up and businesses are forced to go out of business because of the rising prices.

Tim Farron said:

"I am proud to support this bill. It is important that this legislation is amended for the sake of businesses in rural areas and also because it will ensure that the focus is on real negligence, thus protecting members of the public. It is grossly unfair that they are paying premium on insurance when it is admitted that their animals were not to blame, and they have taken every possible precaution to stop their animals causing damage. It is time a fairer situation was introduced"