§ Mr. Nobleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what statistical evidence he has concerning sheep worrying in the United Kingdom during 1973 and 1974;
(2) how many prosecutions there were in cases of sheep worrying in 1973 and 1974.
§ Mr. StrangThe following is the only available information:
SHEEP WORRYING BY DOGS IN 1973—CASUALTIES AND PROSECUTIONS NOTIFIED IN GREAT BRITAIN* Sheep Successful Killed Injured Prosecutions 5,276 4,352 847 * Based on police returns to local authorities Corresponding figures for 1974 are not available.
§ Mr. Nobleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will propose measures for the prevention of sheep worrying.
§ Mr. StrangVarious preventive measures of this kind are already in force, including, for example, the provisions of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, which makes it an offence to allow dogs to attack livestock on agricultural land, and the Animals Act 1971, which allows farmers to kill a marauding dog in certain circumstances. These are being reviewed by the Working Party on Dogs, the terms of reference of which were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment on 13th December 1974.—[Vol. 883, c.279–80.]—In the light of its findings my right hon. Friends will decide whether any further measures are needed and if so what form they should take.