§ 22. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the unsatisfactory conditions in pet shops, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Beckenham he will inquire into the working of the Pet Animals Act, 1951, with a view to the introduction of amending legislation where necessary.
§ Mr. VosperI am making inquiries about the case to which my hon. Friend refers and will write to him.
§ Mr. GoodhartDoes my right hon. Friend recall that the Penge Council quite recently tried to shut down a fairly notorious pet shop which had been exposed in the Sunday Pictorial, and the prosecution failed because of what can only be described as an absurd technicality in the law? Is he really satisfied with the present state of the law controlling pet shops?
§ Mr. VosperI cannot answer that until my inquiries are complete. There may well be a case for amending legislation. I will get in touch with my hon. Friend.