Lord de CLIFFORDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Local Government Act 1972 has given powers to local authorities to make charges for the inspection of premises required to be licensed under appropriate Acts of Parliament dealing with animals in addition to the fees authorised under those Acts.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)No additional powers specifically to make charges for inspecting such premises have been conferred by the Local Government Act 1972 or other recent legislation. However, the Local Government Act 1974 removed Ministerial controls over the fees which local authorities may charge when licensing premises under the Pet Animals Act 1951, the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 and the Riding Establishments Act 1964. The level of fee set by the authority may include any costs of inspection incurred by them.
House adjourned at twenty-two minutes past one o'clock.