§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking(a) to establish the extent of the problem of stolen dogs and (b) to co-ordinate a national strategy for dealing with the problem; [158725]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the police and (b) other countries concerning dog theft; [158726]
(3) what plans he has to introduce a national dog register; [158727]
(4) what representations he has received concerning dog theft; and if he will make a statement; [158728]
(5) what steps he intends to take to ensure that instances of dog theft are properly investigated by the police; [158729]
(6) if he will introduce a time threshold after which a dog reported as being missing will be classified by police as stolen; [159493]
(7) if he will make it his policy to introduce passports for dogs travelling out of Britain to counter the problem of stolen dogs. [159494]
§ Ms BlearsThere is no national strategy to counter dog theft. Where this emerges as a pressing local crime issue, it would be for the police, in consultation with the 1461W Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to take appropriate action. Statistics on the kidnapping of dogs are not held centrally.