§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to transfer the responsibility for stray dogs from the police services to local authorities. [27302]
§ Mr. MacleanSince April 1992, local authorities have had primary responsibility for dealing with stray dogs. The police have a duty under the Dogs Act 1906 to deal with stray dogs brought to police stations. The report of the review of police core and ancillary tasks, published on 27 June 1995, proposed that the police might shed this statutory duty so that local authorities would assume full responsibility for strays.
The proposal, with examples of other co-operative schemes involving police and local authorities, is being considered in consultation with police and local authority associations before any decision is reached.