§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what visits are made by officers of his Department to premises used to breed dogs for research to ensure that licences tally with the number of dogs held on the premises;
(2) what visits are made by officers of his Department to premises registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to ascertain if the number of dogs held tally with the number of licences held.
§ Mr. MellorDog licensing only falls within the responsibilities of my right hon. and learned Friend in so far as the keeper of a dog may be disqualified for holding a licence on a conviction for cruelty. In their visits to places registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, members of the cruelty to animals inspectorate pay particular attention to the treatment of all animals kept there, including dogs. They also impress on the authorities responsible the importance of obtaining them only from reputable suppliers. It is already an offence under the Dogs Act 1906 to hand over stray dogs for use in experimental work. The inspectors have no powers at present to visit breeding premises. The Government propose, however, in the new legislation prefigured in the White Paper "Scientific Procedures on Living Animals" (Cmnd. 8883548W of May 1983) to require breeding and supplying establishments to be registered and regularly inspected. No licensed researcher will be able to acquire animals from an unregistered source without specific authority from the Secretary of State. The use of dogs (or cats) found straying will not be permitted in any circumstances.