§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of unwanted stray dogs destroyed in 1987; and whether he will seek to explore the costs and benefits of free subsidised sterilisation for all dogs whose owners wish it.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have been asked to reply.
No central record is kept of the number of stray dogs seized by the police, local authorities or others, and so it is not possible to estimate the number of unwanted stray dogs destroyed.
As regards the introduction of free subsidised sterilisation for dogs, we have at present no evidence of any general agreement on the need for such a measure or of any widespread public demand for it.