§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all dogs are licensed.
§ Mr. Denis HowellWith certain exceptions the law already requires all dog owners to take out a licence in respect of each dog over 6 months old which he keeps.
As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Callaghan) on 3rd August—[Vol. 955, c. 750–51]—I have initiated further discussions with the local authority associations and animal welfare societies on matters concerning the control and welfare of dogs, in the light of the report of the Interdepartmental Working Party on dogs which recommended ways of improving compliance with licensing requirements.