Written question asked by Mark Pritchard (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 28 June 2007. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal Welfare: Dogs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward legislation to ban the use of electric shock collars for dogs.

Answer: There are no plans to ban the use of electric shock collars. However, we recognise that future research into electric shock collars is a priority. The Department has circulated a new call for research, in the form of a Limited Tender Call, with the aim of taking forward any research on or after April 2007. The aim is to obtain independent scientific evidence so that a decision can be taken as to whether or not there is a need for regulation in this area.We have also asked the Companion Animal Welfare Council, in its role as advisory body to the Government on companion animal welfare matters, to undertake an independent study of available evidence on the use of electronic training devices. The outcome of this study will help inform DEFRA policy and will complement any separate research that DEFRA commissions into these devices.If regulation were considered necessary there would be a full public consultation before any regulations were drafted and put to Parliament. All research into these areas commissioned by the Government will be put in the public domain.

Secondary information