HC Deb 08 July 1897 vol 50 cc1349-50
MR. J. W. WILSON (Worcestershire, N.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is prepared to bring in a Bill giving effect to that part of the Departmental Committee's Report which advises the annual issue of a metal disc, to be worn by the dog when licensed, with a view to reducing the number of stray dogs, and thus avoiding, as in many foreign countries, the necessity for muzzling orders; and whether it may be possible for such legislation to be pressed forward with a view to taking effect as soon as the present muzzling orders can be relaxed?

*THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRIC ULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Liverpool, West Derby

A Bill for the purpose of giving effect to those recommendations of the Departmental Committee which cannot be carried out without further legislation is now in course of preparation, and will, I hope, be introduced very shortly. Whether it will be possible for it to be passed into law this Session must depend upon circumstances over which I have no control, but I do not anticipate that any great difference of opinion will arise with regard to its proposals.