§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of successful prosecutions in the first 12 months after the increase in the maximum fine for a first offence of livestock worrying by a dog; and how this compares with the number of prosecutions in the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe criminal statistics do not distinguish between persons convicted of a first offence and those convicted of subsequent offences; but by May of this year I hope to have statistics showing the total number of persons convicted under Section 1 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, 1953, during 1968, the first year of operation of the increased penalty. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available, with figures for 1967 and 1968.