§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many search and rescue dogs based in the UK are available to attend disasters. [162696]
§ Hilary BennThere are twelve collapsed structure search and rescue dogs that are registered with the National Search and Rescue dog group of which two are presently quarantined following their deployment to the Bam earthquake and two are being kept in Spain.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Department made available for the provision of search and rescue dogs in each of the last five years. [162697]
§ Hilary BennThe provision of search and rescue dogs is managed and supported by the non-governmental organisations themselves that comprise the National Search and Rescue dog group. DFID meets the costs of their deployment and return when the dogs are used overseas as part of a United Kingdom response to natural disasters such as earthquakes. It is not possible to disaggregate the deployment costs of the dogs as they are one part of a larger search and rescue effort and immediate response that usually also includes the delivery of other relief items by the same chartered aircraft.