§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the considerations which caused him to incorporate section 37 into the Local Government Act 1988;
(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) of 14 February, on dog registration, Official Report, column 186, if he has any plans to repeal section 37 of the Local Government Act 1988;
(3) if he has consulted local authorities and other organisations on the question of dog registration, as required by section 37 of the Local Government Act 1988.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySection 37 was inserted into the Act by another place against Government advice. We accepted it so as not to delay Royal Assent. We have no plans to repeal section 37. We do not intend to introduce a dog registration scheme so that the requirement to consult local authorities does not arise.