§ Mr. WoodcockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the weight of dog excrement deposited on the streets of Britain each year; and if he will increase the penalties on dog owners who allow their pets to foul pavements.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have made no such estimate. Under existing legislation the maximum penalty which local authorities may prescribe in their byelaws for offences of this nature is a fine at level 2 on the standard scale (currently £100), and we have no plans to increase the level.