§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the costs of collecting dog licences and the revenue received for each of the last three financial years and his estimates for the current year.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe costs of issuing dog licences through the Post Office for the last three financial years were around £1,255,000; £1,887,000 and £2,851,000 respectively; the estimate for the current financial year is £3,026,000. The revenue received by local authorities in England and Wales for 1978–79 was approximately £985,000 and for 1979–80 approximately £1,012,000—which is also the estimate for 1980–81 and 1981–82—The level of the licence fee is, of course, primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.