(12 years ago)
Commons Chamber Mr Speaker
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Mr Speaker 
        
    
        
    
        No doubt we will hear about the dog enthusiasms of Mr Andrew Stephenson.
 Andrew Stephenson
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Andrew Stephenson 
        
    
        
    
        Thank you, Mr Speaker. I congratulate the Minister on his new position. Unfortunately, I do not have a dog, so I cannot enter one into the competition.
As for dog attacks, my own mother was attacked in the run-up to local elections by a dog on private property. As the Minister will be aware, around 70% of dog attacks on postal workers occur on private property. What effect does the Minister think the extension of the criminal offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control on private property will have on all those whose jobs depend on visiting people’s homes?
 George Eustice
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            George Eustice 
        
    
        
    
        My hon. Friend makes a good point. Volunteers in my own constituency, too, have experienced dog attacks. For the first time, this measure will give hard-working people such as postal workers and others who visit homes as part of their job the full protection of the law when they are confronted by an out-of-control dog. This Government support hard-working people—not just in words, but in deed.
(14 years ago)
Commons Chamber Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        5. What steps she is taking to encourage young people to take up learning and vocational training opportunities in the countryside and farming sector.
 George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        6. What steps she is taking to encourage young people to take up learning and vocational training opportunities in the countryside and farming sector.