HC Deb 20 July 1960 vol 627 c52W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police dogs have been procured in England by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last three calendar years; what has been the total cost of procuring these dogs in each year; and how the average cost of English dogs compares with the average cost of imported German dogs, including all expenses involved, and the estimated cost of maintaining these imported dogs in quarantine.

Mr. R. A. Butler

In 1957 the Metropolitan Police acquired 56 dogs; in 1958, 61 dogs; and in 1959, 37 dogs. Most of these were received as gifts, but miscellaneous expenditure of £80, £31, and £137 was incurred in connection with their acquisition. The average cost of all dogs acquired for police purposes in England and Wales is not known; but it must be less than the average cost of the small number of dogs, specially selected for breeding purposes, which were recently imported from the Continent.