Lorraine Barrett AM, Cardiff South & Penarth, Founder Member and Chair of APGAW since 2000.

I have been a long-standing supporter of animal welfare, campaigning on many issues over the years and so I was proud to be involved in establishing an All Party Group for Animal Welfare, one of the first all-party/cross-party groups, in the National Assembly for Wales.

As politicians we are always aware how passionate the people of Wales are about animal welfare issues and it remains a big part of our postbag. It is essential therefore that there is a platform, beyond the Environment, Planning & Countryside Committee of which I am a member, at which these issues can be debated within the Assembly.

´The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.´ - Mahatma Ghandi

APGAW Wales has met regularly since 2000 hearing from many organisations covering issues such as bovine TB and badgers, wildlife crime, illegal trade in exotics, local government responsibilities on animal welfare, farm animal welfare, greyhound welfare, equines, game rearing systems and bull fighting. Many issues are those that are urgent and happening now in Wales, but we have also looked further afield at animal welfare issues in Europe, which is where a great deal of legislation affecting animals originates.

We are delighted that the Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside, Carwyn Jones AM has spoken at a number of our meetings and events. We have also had the support of many of my fellow Assembly Members, indeed we want all AMs to use APGAW as the valuable resource that it is.

When an issue that has been discussed at a meeting requires further information or research we have the ability to set up a working party or sub-group. The most active one we have set up was as a result of our very first meeting, the topic of which was the welfare of greyhounds post racing career. Initially some research and a subsequent report was needed (you can view this in the ´Report´ section of this website) to understand the scale of the problem. Following the publication of the report we brought APGAW associate members concerned with this area, together with the three racing tracks in Wales and formed the Wales Greyhound Forum. The Forum meets regularly and is working hard on a registration scheme and improving welfare. The Forum, with the help of the RSPCA produced a leaflet on owning a racing greyhound, which can also be viewed in the ´Report´ section.

We are in close contact with our sister groups in both Westminster and Scotland. The Chairs of those groups and myself met up to discuss common animal welfare issues and campaigns in 2002 and the secretariat for all three groups meet and exchange information on a regular basis. You can find out more about APGAW Westminster at www.apgaw.org

As an All Party Group we comply with the Assembly´s requirement to register, please see the attached links for Assembly guidance on all party groups and APGAW Wales´ registration:

http://www.wales.gov.uk/yourqwho/content/crossparty-gdnc-e.htm

http://www.wales.gov.uk/yourqwho/content/crossparty-anwelfare-e.htm#top

We aim to be as inclusive as possible and we actively encourage animal welfare groups to join. We enjoy a healthy debate and I hope positively influence the political agenda as a result.

If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact Claire Lawson from APGAW´s secretariat.

I look forward to seeing you at meetings!

Lorraine

´Nowadays we don´t think much of a man´s love for an animal; we laugh at people who are attached to cats. But if we stop loving animals, aren´t we bound to stop loving humans too?´ - Alexander Solzhenitsyn