Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the affect of pesticides on trends in the number of insects dying in the UK.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Insects are an essential part of our environment and pollinating insects play a crucial role in food production. Government research has shown that a major pressure on pollinating insects has been the loss of flower-rich habitats but there are several other threats, which are likely to interact, including climate change, land use intensification, invasive species, disease and inappropriate pesticide use.
The Government has not made a direct assessment of the impact of pesticides on other insect populations. We ensure that the use of pesticides is only authorised where detailed scientific assessment finds that this will not harm people or have unacceptable effects on the environment (including on insects). The UK supports the current restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides that were put in place in 2018 to protect pollinating insects. We will maintain these restrictions unless the scientific evidence changes.
Since 2014, the Government has been working with a range of partners on the National Pollinator Strategy to address the various threats and help pollinators to thrive. There is strong scientific evidence that by increasing habitat for insects, we support long-term population increases and we are working to that end with farmers, businesses and conservation organisations.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many attacks on (1) guide dogs, and (2) other assistance dogs, were reported in (a) 2016, (b) 2017, and (c) 2018; and what penalties were imposed for such attacks.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
In 2015, the Government amended section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to specifically make it an offence to allow a dog to attack an assistance dog. The maximum penalty for such an offence is three years imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both. Information on the number of guide dog or other assistance dog attacks is not collated centrally, and information on the penalties imposed as a result of a conviction under section 3 of the Act does not specify whether the offence was specifically in relation to an assistance dog.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking in relation to dog attacks on guide dogs.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
In 2015, the Government amended the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to specifically make it an offence to allow a dog to attack an assistance dog. The maximum penalty for such an offence is three years imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reverse the decline in hedgehog numbers.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
There are a range of factors that have contributed to the decline of hedgehogs. As set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat to provide benefits for species such as the hedgehog. Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for a range of species including hedgehogs.
We continue to support the work being done by non-governmental organisations, such as the British Hedgehog Protection Society, including the creation of hedgehog havens and campaigns encouraging local communities to work together to look out for the hedgehog and make gardens as welcoming as possible.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions took place in relation to dog fighting in England and Wales in (1) 2014, (2) 2015, and (3) 2016.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
10 defendants were proceeded against for dog fighting offences in England and Wales in 2014, and 21 defendants were proceeded against in 2015. Data for 2016 is planned for publication in May 2017.
This information was obtained from a manual review of court case files that centrally held data indicated may be relevant, and as such has not been through the same quality assurance processes as for routinely published data.
These figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to curb dog fighting.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government has provided the police with a range of powers to tackle dog fighting effectively. Offences cover organising, advertising and taking monies relating to animal fights as well as the possession of equipment used to train dogs for dog fighting. In addition, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence to possess certain types of dog that have been identified as bred for fighting or that are similar to types bred for fighting. The police work with the Special Operations Unit of the RSPCA to target illegal dog fighting rings by gathering intelligence and prosecuting those that are involved in dog fighting.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to restrict the commercial sale of cats to licensed establishments to ensure the welfare of cats for sale.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The current law requires that all licensed sellers of pet animals, whether they are running a traditional high street pet shop or selling online from their home, do not sell pets at too young an age, which for mammals is defined as before they are weaned or should have been weaned. As part of the licensing review, we are looking to clarify this requirement in the regulations and make it a requirement that both puppies and kittens should not be sold if they are under 8 weeks’ of age.
While we accept that dog breeding needs to be closely regulated, we do not consider that cat breeding requires licensing. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of animals at a cat breeding establishment they can report the matter to their local authority or the RSPCA. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal or to fail to provide for its welfare of which the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and/or six months’ imprisonment.
We are currently reviewing the laws on the animal activities licensing schemes, including those that control the commercial sale of pet animals, including cats. Earlier this year, we consulted on a number of proposals including one to apply specific welfare conditions to pet vendors. This will mean that such activities will have to be licensed and meet specific welfare standards in order to obtain a licence but there are no proposals to restrict those licensed vendors from selling cats to other licensed establishments.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to regulate the breeding of cats for sale in cases where a single cat produces several litters.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The current law requires that all licensed sellers of pet animals, whether they are running a traditional high street pet shop or selling online from their home, do not sell pets at too young an age, which for mammals is defined as before they are weaned or should have been weaned. As part of the licensing review, we are looking to clarify this requirement in the regulations and make it a requirement that both puppies and kittens should not be sold if they are under 8 weeks’ of age.
While we accept that dog breeding needs to be closely regulated, we do not consider that cat breeding requires licensing. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of animals at a cat breeding establishment they can report the matter to their local authority or the RSPCA. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal or to fail to provide for its welfare of which the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and/or six months’ imprisonment.
We are currently reviewing the laws on the animal activities licensing schemes, including those that control the commercial sale of pet animals, including cats. Earlier this year, we consulted on a number of proposals including one to apply specific welfare conditions to pet vendors. This will mean that such activities will have to be licensed and meet specific welfare standards in order to obtain a licence but there are no proposals to restrict those licensed vendors from selling cats to other licensed establishments.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to prohibit the sale of kittens under eight-weeks old.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The current law requires that all licensed sellers of pet animals, whether they are running a traditional high street pet shop or selling online from their home, do not sell pets at too young an age, which for mammals is defined as before they are weaned or should have been weaned. As part of the licensing review, we are looking to clarify this requirement in the regulations and make it a requirement that both puppies and kittens should not be sold if they are under 8 weeks’ of age.
While we accept that dog breeding needs to be closely regulated, we do not consider that cat breeding requires licensing. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of animals at a cat breeding establishment they can report the matter to their local authority or the RSPCA. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal or to fail to provide for its welfare of which the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and/or six months’ imprisonment.
We are currently reviewing the laws on the animal activities licensing schemes, including those that control the commercial sale of pet animals, including cats. Earlier this year, we consulted on a number of proposals including one to apply specific welfare conditions to pet vendors. This will mean that such activities will have to be licensed and meet specific welfare standards in order to obtain a licence but there are no proposals to restrict those licensed vendors from selling cats to other licensed establishments.
Asked by: Lord Hoyle (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there are regular inspection regimes, based on good husbandry practice, for all pet suppliers including shops, breeders and re-homing centres.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Local authorities are required by law to license anyone selling animals as a business and dog breeders. Before issuing a licence the local authority must inspect the premises concerned. Clear guidance and model conditions are available to assist this process. Powers are also available to local authorities to re-inspect including in response to concerns about poor welfare.
Re-homing centres are not subject to a specific regulatory regime but local authorities have powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to investigate if there are concerns about poor animal welfare.