§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study his Department has made of Manchester city council's proposals for a dog registration scheme, details of which have been sent to him by the city's director of environmental health; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 20 July 1989]: I will consider the letter to which the hon. Member refers when I receive it. We do not believe, however, that a national dog registration scheme is the answer to problems of dog control. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced proposals for giving local authorities new powers and duties for dealing with these problems. We will be issuing a consultation paper shortly.