§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Union on the import into the UK of puppies from puppy farms; [147455]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Republic of Ireland concerning the importation of puppies from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland; [147465]
(3) how many puppies have been imported into the United Kingdom from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years; [147466]
(4) what licensing arrangements are in place in respect of importers of puppies from puppy farms in (a) the Irish Republic and (b) elsewhere; [147467]
(5) what recent representations she has received regarding the importation of puppies from puppy farms in (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) elsewhere. [147468]
§ Mr. BradshawThere are no centrally held statistics available for the number of dogs imported into the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland because there are no restrictions on trade of animals between the two countries. However, all movements of animals for commercial purposes within the EU must comply with the provisions of EU Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport, which in the UK is implemented by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. There have been no discussions with my counterparts in the Republic of Ireland or the EU on the subject of importation of puppies from puppy farms into the UK.