Asked by: Mike Hancock (Independent - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department issues to members of the public about where to buy a puppy.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra provides guidance on buying a puppy which is available on the GOV.UK website. The advice includes encouraging people to read the Puppy Information Pack provided by the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA and to also use the Puppy Contract to get as much information about the puppy as possible.
Asked by: Mike Hancock (Independent - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the principles of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme mandatory for anyone breeding dogs.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra fully supports the principles of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme but considers it goes beyond the minimum standards set by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and so could not be used as the basis for regulations under the 2006 Act.
Asked by: Mike Hancock (Independent - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will encourage local authorities to use Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme inspectors to (a) conduct inspections on behalf of local authorities and (b) train local authority inspectors.
Answered by George Eustice
We are aware of the offer made by the Kennel Club to inspect and train local authority inspectors. Local authorities may choose to take up this offer or those made by other organisations.