Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of incorporating the assured breeder scheme into the new dog breeding regulations.

We recognise that the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeders Scheme provides benefits for animal welfare and is a hallmark by which potential purchasers can obtain a puppy.

Under our proposals anyone who is a member of an organisation that has been certified by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service will benefit from being assessed as lower risk and attract fewer inspections, a lower fee and be able to show a higher star rating on any merchandising or advertising they may employ.