Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has considered the adequacy of funding levels in animal-welfare enforcement among local-authority areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions UIN 39702 and UIN 39701.

The majority of the funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.