§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in view of the fact that the collection of statistics ceased after 1978, by what means his Department monitors the problem of livestock worrying by dogs;
(2) what action his Department has taken since May 1979 to tackle the problem of livestock worrying by dogs; and how successful this action has been.
§ Mrs. FennerMy Department's officials keep in touch with the local situation in the areas for which they are responsible. Since May 1979 my Department has continued, especially during the lambing season and at holiday times, to publicise the need to keep dogs under proper control; but, in addition, a provision of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 has now come into force which makes it an offence for a dog to be at large in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep unless it is on a lead or otherwise under close control. It is too early yet to judge the success of this.