HC Deb 28 October 1971 vol 823 cc2049-50
3. Dr. Gilbert

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make proposals for reducing the number of attacks on the public by unsupervised guard dogs.

11. Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now collected all the information he requires about the use of guard dogs; and when he will announce his conclusions to the House.

Mr. Sharples

In consultation with chief officers of police, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary have carried out a thorough examination of the material supplied by the police. The most significant point to emerge is that only a small proportion of the dog attacks known to the police are made by unattended guard dogs. They regret that incidents should ever occur of the kind which have given rise to their inquiries, and they hope that the publicity the incidents have attracted will bring home to those who own or employ dogs the importance of proper safeguards. But they do not think they would be justified in proposing any special measure of control to Parliament.

Dr. Gilbert

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that is a most disappointing answer? Does he recall that the last time this subject was raised in the House we were told that these attacks were proceeding at the rate of about 200 a year? It will not be long before somebody, perhaps a small child, gets killed. Is he not prepared to do something about the situation?

Mr. Sharples

The great majority of cases involve dogs which are not guard dogs. In the Metropolitan Police District, for example, there were 3,374 incidents relating to dogs biting people, but guard dogs were involved in only 60 of those cases.

Mr. Ronald King Murray

Is the Minister aware that in some foreign countries the law imposes absolute liability on dog owners for personal injuries caused by dogs to third parties? In the light of his reply, does he not think it time that a similar reform was introduced in this country?

Mr. Sharples

That involves civil law and is a matter for my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor.