§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many sheep have been killed by dogs in Wales during the last six months; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alec JonesReports on the number of sheep killed by dogs in Wales are submitted by the police to local authorities on an annual basis. Figures for the last six months and for the corresponding period in the last 10 years could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.
The reported numbers of sheep killed by dogs in each year since 1966 are as follows:
353W
Year No 1966 1,804 1967 2,008 1968 1,642 1969 1,689 1970 2,130 1971 1,561 1972 1,409 1973 1,706 1974* 1975 1,743 1976 2,053 1977 1,942 * Figures not available owing to local Government reorgansiation. Sheep worrying by dogs is a continuing problem particularly in South Wales where sheep farming is practised in close proximity to urban areas. It is important to bring home to the public the need to keep dogs under control in the countryside. The Welsh Office regularly issues a press notice on the subject and a colour poster on this subject has been widely distributed.