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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations her Department has received about the reduction of the number of puppy litters permitted during any 12 month period before a dog breeding licence is required; and if she will make a statement.

This is a recommendation made by a number of key stakeholders. However, the existing legislation does not set a minimum threshold for numbers of litters born in a twelve month period. Instead, the legislation determines anyone who is in the business of breeding and selling dogs needs to be licensed. The legislation also sets a threshold of five litters born in a twelve month period at which everyone needs a licence, regardless of whether they are considered as being in the business.