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Bill will Protect Animal Owners from Unfair Compensation Claims A Private Member's Bill due to be introduced in the House of Commons this week will mean that responsible owners of animals will be protected from unfair compensation claims – according to the CLA, one of the organisations campaigning to get the Bill into law.
The Conservative Member of Parliament for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Stephen Crabb, is proposing a Bill which aims to ensure that animal owners cannot be unfairly forced to pay compensation. Under current law, owners of animals such as horses and cattle can face huge compensation claims, even when it is accepted that an accident involving one of their animals was not their fault. The problem is particularly severe for horse owners. Ever since the House of Lords ruled in 2003 that "strict liability" applied to all animal owners - even the owners of a perfectly normal animal that causes injury by behaving in a way typical of its species - insurance premiums have soared, threatening the livelihoods of thousands in small stables across the country. Stephen Crabb introduced a ten minute rule Bill, drawn up by lawyers at the CLA, the rural economy experts, earlier this year. In spite of widespread support for the Bill, it was not possible for the Bill to make progress under that procedure. However, since coming sixth in the ballot for Private Members' Bills in the new Session of Parliament, Stephen Crabb has decided to introduce another Bill on this topic, based on the previous bill, which now stands much greater chance of success. Stephen Crabb said: "The existing situation is grossly unfair to responsible animal owners, including many in my own constituency. Not only are rural businesses placed at risk by the huge increase in premiums since the House of Lords judgement, but the millions of people who enjoy horse riding face extra costs as a result. Many stables have already closed and many more are threatened. Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, president of the CLA, the rural economy experts, said that the Bill will be formally introduced in the House of Commons this week and should receive its first detailed consideration at Second Reading in March next year. If it is able to progress smoothly through both Houses of Parliament, the Bill could become law by next summer. "This is a vitally important Bill for all horse and animal owners. It doesn't seek to free animal owners from blame or a duty of care but it would free people from the unfair burden of strict liability. "Stephen Crabb must be congratulated for seeing that the Bill, if it becomes law, could mean the difference between economic survival and bankruptcy for many equine businesses. Something needs to be done to reduce the cost involved in owning horses and the CLA is now calling for cross party support to make this Bill law," he said. |
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More articles and documents [News Archive] [15 October 2007] GN13-12 Dealing with Uninvited Horses [Guidance notes] [9 May 2012] |
An economist, advises on rural economic issues, particularly food policy, rural tourism, equine issues and telecommunications policy. 
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