Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Fletcher Excerpts

Tuesday 29th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North East) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to tackle pet theft.

[Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to tackle pet theft.

[Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to tackle pet theft.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Buckland]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her deep commitment to this issue. She is so right to highlight the wellbeing and mental health effects of the loss of a much-loved pet on her local residents in Wolverhampton and more widely. That is precisely why we took action to set up the taskforce, and we will indeed be reporting as soon as possible to address the concerns of her constituents.

[Mark Fletcher]

Pet theft can be absolutely heartbreaking for families. I have spoken to some of the families in my constituency who have gone through this process and they warmly welcome the establishment of the pet theft taskforce. Can my right hon. and learned Friend outline what kind of solutions the taskforce is looking at?

[Robert Buckland]

My hon. Friend is right to reflect the views of his constituents in Bolsover and the wider community. We are looking at not just the consequences of pet theft, but ways in which the black market in the trade in animals can be dealt with. Lots of ideas and initiatives merit serious consideration as to how we can prevent the incentives for this sort of despicable crime from occurring in the first place. That is the work that is being carried out now.