Dogs (Hansard, 13 July 1989)

§ 27. Mr. McAllion
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce compulsory muzzling in public for particular breeds of dog.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
As I explained in the debate on the Adjournment on 15 June, I am not persuaded that this is the right course to take.
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§ Mr. Robert Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration his Department has given to introducing schemes to encourage dog owners to have dogs neutered as a move to reducing the dog population.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I am not persuaded that this is properly a matter for the Government. The care and wellbeing of pets is the responsibility of owners.
On the general matters of local authority powers in relation to stray dogs, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment made a statement in the debate on the Local Government and Housing Bill on 14 June at column 1053.

§ Mr. Robert Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration his Department has given to widening the authority of parking wardens to apprehend and report(a) people allowing their dogs to foul footpaths and (b) people committing litter offences.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We have no plans to extend the functions of traffic wardens beyond their primary purpose, which is to assist the police in the enforcement of road traffic law.