Mr. J. Enoch Powellasked the Prime Minister why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not have powers, corresponding to those of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Her Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, to alter the level of the dog licence fee.
§ The Prime MinisterFees for dog licences in Northern Ireland comprise a licence duty and a registration fee. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has powers to prescribe the amount of the latter but at present possesses none in respect of the licence duty, which is fixed by statute—currently by the Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act 1919. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to introduce legislation in due course which will,inter ailia, enable him to alter the level of the licence fee.