Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the comparative cost of a dog licence in other member countries of the European Community.
§ Mr. Strang, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 30 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 399], gave the following information:
481W
482W
CURRENT COSTS OF DOG LICENCE FEES ETC IN OTHER EEC COUNTRIES Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Member State Nature of charge Annual rate per dog (or range where appropriate) Sterling equivalent of amount(s) in Column 3* Categories of dog to which reduced rates or exemptions apply Belgium Licence fee set by each commune 200–350 francs £3.40–£6 Exempt: puppies under 6 months old. Denmark Compulsory third party insurance at uniform rate. 68 kroner £6.60 Exempt: dogs in public service. France None — — — Germany, Federal Republic of Tax set by each commune 60–120 DM† £16.10–£32.20 ‡ Ireland, Republic of Uniform licence fee One pound £1 Exempt: puppies under 6 months old. Italy Tax set by each commune 18,000–24,000 lire £10.80–£14.40 Reduced rate: hunting and guard dogs, dogs held for commercial purposes. Exempt: guide dogs, sheep dogs, dogs in public service, puppies under 2 months old. Luxembourg§ Tax set by commune 300–840 francs £5.10–£14.30 Exempt: puppies still with the bitch. Netherlands§ Tax set by municipality 50–100 guilders £12.40–£24.80 ‡ * Currencies converted to sterling (to the nearest 10 pence) at the average of the daily spot rate closing prices over the three months ending 31 January 1979. † Estimate. ‡ Exemption and reduced-rate categories vary from area to area. § Charge levied in some areas only.