Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) updating and (b) consolidating the regulations on dog control.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government considers that the powers and measures contained within dangerous dog legislation allow enforcers such as police and local authorities to take the necessary action in order to prevent and tackle incidents of dangerous dogs. Local initiatives such as Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) can also be adopted in areas where police, local authorities and other interested parties can come together to promote responsible dog ownership.
In addition, early intervention measures such as Community Protection Notices can be issued by local authority officers or police to anyone causing low level anti-social behaviour involving a dog.
The Government last reviewed the law on dangerous dogs in 2014 and made a number of changes. The changes included extending the scope of the offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control from public places to all places; increasing the maximum penalties for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control; when a dog causes injury or death and when a dog attacks an assistance dog.
The Government realises the importance of quality research to help inform its policy, and in November 2018 Defra commissioned further research in collaboration with Middlesex University to look at responsible ownership across all breeds of dog. The research will consider different approaches and the effectiveness of current dog control measures. The research will also seek to identify and examine the factors and situations that may cause dog attacks and how to promote responsible dog ownership.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish her Department's research on the effectiveness of dog control.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Defra commissioned research on responsible dog ownership with Middlesex University. The research aims to update the review Defra commissioned previously in 2010 which considered risk factors around dog attacks, as well as reviewing the use of enforcement around dog control issues, identifying best practice case studies and how to promote responsible dog ownership. As part of the research, the team will draw on relevant evidence from a number of EU countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The research is due to be completed by the end of 2019. The Government will discuss the findings with stakeholders including dog welfare organisations who have contributed to the research.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to allow rehoming organisations to rehome well-behaved and suitably assessed section 1 dogs.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
I refer my Hon Friend to the reply previously given on June 27 to PQ 267365.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with dog welfare organisations on promoting responsible dog ownership in education.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Defra commissioned research on responsible dog ownership with Middlesex University. The research aims to update the review Defra commissioned previously in 2010 which considered risk factors around dog attacks, as well as reviewing the use of enforcement around dog control issues, identifying best practice case studies and how to promote responsible dog ownership. As part of the research, the team will draw on relevant evidence from a number of EU countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The research is due to be completed by the end of 2019. The Government will discuss the findings with stakeholders including dog welfare organisations who have contributed to the research.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has commissioned research on (a) regulations in relation to dog and (b) responsible dog ownership policies in EU countries.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Defra commissioned research on responsible dog ownership with Middlesex University. The research aims to update the review Defra commissioned previously in 2010 which considered risk factors around dog attacks, as well as reviewing the use of enforcement around dog control issues, identifying best practice case studies and how to promote responsible dog ownership. As part of the research, the team will draw on relevant evidence from a number of EU countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The research is due to be completed by the end of 2019. The Government will discuss the findings with stakeholders including dog welfare organisations who have contributed to the research.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce education in schools to promote responsible dog ownership.
Answered by Nick Gibb
There are no plans to introduce responsible dog ownership into the curriculum for schools. The Government has committed to no further changes to the National Curriculum this Parliament. Schools have the autonomy to teach responsible pet ownership if they wish to.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what impact assessment has been prepared by her Department (a) from 1 January 2018 to 23 July 2019 and (b) since 23 July 2019 after discussions at EU XTP and EU XTPO committees on business supply chains as part of preparations for Operation Kingfisher; and if she will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the detailed planning assumptions of the Border Delivery Group for each month since January 2019.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recently published its reasonable worst case planning assumptions on 11 September, setting out the Government’s assessment as of 2 August.Planning assumptions are held under constant review, to reflect the latest evidence and analysis of the potential impact of leaving the EU without a deal. The Government’s updated planning assumptions will be published in due course.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, what the (a) average fee and (b) lowest and highest charges for licences issued in England in 2019 to date across all local authorities was for (i) breeding dogs, (ii) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats, (iii) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for dogs in kennels, (iv) providing or arranging for the provision of day care for dogs, (v) hiring out horses, (vi) selling animals as pets and (vii) keeping or training animals for exhibition.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Under regulation 29 of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 it is a requirement for local authorities in England to submit specified information relating to licensable activities in their respective areas. Such information should be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 May for each preceding year 1 April to 31 March. Local authorities have submitted information to the Secretary of State for this year and Defra is analysing the data. We aim to publish the information later this year.
Asked by: Angela Smith (Liberal Democrat - Penistone and Stocksbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, how many licences have been issued under those regulations in 2019 for (a) breeding dogs, (b) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats, (c) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for dogs in kennels, (d) providing or arranging for the provision of day care for dogs, (e) hiring out horses, (f) selling animals as pets and (g) keeping or training animals for exhibition.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Under regulation 29 of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 it is a requirement for local authorities in England to submit specified information relating to licensable activities in their respective areas. Such information should be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 May for each preceding year 1 April to 31 March. Local authorities have submitted information to the Secretary of State for this year and Defra is analysing the data. We aim to publish the information later this year.