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Written question asked by Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 29 August 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. It was answered by Daniel Zeichner (Labour) on Thursday, 4 September 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Dogs: Licensing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of re-introducing the imposition of dog licences.

Answer

We have no plans at this time to reintroduce an annual registration scheme or dog licenses. The old dog licence was repealed by the Local Government Act 1988 because it cost more to administer than the revenue it generated and was in effect an ownership registration scheme. Now that microchipping and registration on a compliant database is mandatory, this is no longer necessary.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
72480
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Licensing Dogs
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk