Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a penalty for (a) failing to stop for and (b) report hitting a domestic cat under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The Government has no current plans to amend legislation on reporting animal accidents or deaths on the road. However, the police do advise drivers that, if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals such as cats, and inform them of the situation. In addition, Rule 286 of The Highway Code also advises drivers to report any accident involving an animal to the police.