HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc5-6
6. Mr. Jamieson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on keeping dogs at Ministry of Defence establishments.

Mr. Hanley

More than 2,000 service dogs are kept at Ministry of Defence establishments worldwide. They provide valuable and cost-effective security. In addition, there are some dogs privately owned and kept at personal expense; if they are kennelled at Ministry of Defence establishments, their owners are charged for the use of any Ministry of Defence property.

Mr. Jamieson

Following his recent written answer to me, will the Minister confirm that the taxpayer is getting good value for money by subsidising dog kennels so that senior officers can go hunting during duty hours? In particular, will he confirm, following a written answer to me on 14 March, at column 520, that hunting with dogs promotes "good tactical… appreciation"? How can officers serving in the Navy use such tactical appreciation aboard Her Majesty's ships?

Mr. Hanley

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is barking up the wrong tree; he clearly does not appreciate that the qualities expected in one force are usually expected in all three and that military capability for a leading officer in the Royal Navy is just as great as that for such an officer in any of the forces. The forces share their expertise. I can assure the hon. Gentleman, who has pursued this issue quite vigorously recently, that hunting never interferes with any military commitments. It is a legal sport and, while it remains legal, the Ministry of Defence will co-operate with those who wish to undertake it.

Mr. Whittingdale

My hon. Friend will be aware that, immediately before Easter, a number of boxes of anti-personnel mines were lost from the testing station at Shoeburyness and washed up on the beaches of my constituency—

Madam Speaker

Order. I know that the hon. Gentleman is a very good trier, and the Minister may have a reply, but that question does not relate to that on the Order Paper. Let us hear about dogs being washed up.

Mr. Whittingdale

Does my hon. Friend have any plans to employ sniffer dogs to ensure that that will not happen again? If not, what action does he propose to take?

Mr. Hanley

There is no doubt that you, Madam Speaker, nearly smelt a rat on that one. My hon. Friend makes a good point because although the majority of dogs used by the Ministry of Defence are used for guarding, 355 are trained for specialist detection duties, which include arms and explosives searches, drugs detection and tracking. As to the event to which my hon. Friend referred, an urgent investigation is being carried out.