To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs and puppies entered the UK under the Balai Directive in the last 12 months; how old these animals were; and what their country of origin was.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs and puppies entered the UK under the Balai Directive in the last 12 months; how old these animals were; and what their country of origin was.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained following detection by sniffer dogs on more than one occasion at the ports of (a) Calais, (b) Dunkirk and (c) Channel Tunnel in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained following detection by sniffer dogs on more than one occasion at the ports of (a) Calais, (b) Dunkirk and (c) Channel Tunnel in each of the last three years.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research paper Effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs, whether they plan to ban the use of electric shock collars on dogs.[HL4001]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research paper Effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs, whether they plan to ban the use of electric shock collars on dogs.[HL4001]

My Lords, the words of the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, were music to my ears because I have introduced two Private Members’ Bills about dog control notices—one under the Government of the party opposite and one under the coalition. Funnily enough, I got a completely different response from the party...

My Lords, the words of the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, were music to my ears because I have introduced two Private Members’ Bills about dog control notices—one under the Government of the party opposite and one under the coalition. Funnily enough, I got a completely different response from the party...

Of course. It is interesting how things develop. That is probably the purpose of this House. Private Members’ Bills do get the ball rolling. When I started on my first Bill, it was written with all the dog organisations and the RSPCA. It had a great deal of support, but...

Of course. It is interesting how things develop. That is probably the purpose of this House. Private Members’ Bills do get the ball rolling. When I started on my first Bill, it was written with all the dog organisations and the RSPCA. It had a great deal of support, but...

My Lords, I rise to speak to Amendment 56MA, which has already been mentioned by my noble friend Lady Smith and I hope to elaborate on what she had to say.

The Minister will be aware that many organisations and individuals have campaigned for dog control notices, including the RSPCA, the...

My Lords, I rise to speak to Amendment 56MA, which has already been mentioned by my noble friend Lady Smith and I hope to elaborate on what she had to say.

The Minister will be aware that many organisations and individuals have campaigned for dog control notices, including the RSPCA, the...

My Lords, I see my noble friend Lady Hamwee is rising; she probably has much more expertise than I do. I would not want to spend more than about 22 seconds on this particular subject this evening.

I declare an interest straight off, in that under my roof there are not...

My Lords, I see my noble friend Lady Hamwee is rising; she probably has much more expertise than I do. I would not want to spend more than about 22 seconds on this particular subject this evening.

I declare an interest straight off, in that under my roof there are not...

My Lords, I knowledge the progress made in extending the law regarding private property and dangerous dogs. In supporting

the amendments, I do not wish to undermine the Government's proposed action but rather to strengthen it. I recognise that the noble Lords, Lord Henley, Lord De Mauley and now Lord...

My Lords, I knowledge the progress made in extending the law regarding private property and dangerous dogs. In supporting

the amendments, I do not wish to undermine the Government's proposed action but rather to strengthen it. I recognise that the noble Lords, Lord Henley, Lord De Mauley and now Lord...

My Lords, I shall make one point in the context of this Bill, which follows a comment by the noble Baroness, Lady Donaghy. Much of this Bill is about anti-social behaviour where someone is “likely to” do something, “threatens to” do something, or something is “capable of” causing harm and...

My Lords, I shall make one point in the context of this Bill, which follows a comment by the noble Baroness, Lady Donaghy. Much of this Bill is about anti-social behaviour where someone is “likely to” do something, “threatens to” do something, or something is “capable of” causing harm and...

My Lords, this has been an interesting debate, particularly for me. When I became a Minister in Defra, a little over two years ago, one of my first priorities was to consider the whole business of dogs. I was motivated by exactly the same sentiments as most noble Lords have...

My Lords, this has been an interesting debate, particularly for me. When I became a Minister in Defra, a little over two years ago, one of my first priorities was to consider the whole business of dogs. I was motivated by exactly the same sentiments as most noble Lords have...

Moved by

Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes

56LG: Clause 98, page 70, line 46, at end insert—

“( ) after subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) The owner of a dog commits an offence if they, or the person for the time being in charge of the dog, are not able to control the dog in a...

Moved by

Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes

56LG: Clause 98, page 70, line 46, at end insert—

“( ) after subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) The owner of a dog commits an offence if they, or the person for the time being in charge of the dog, are not able to control the dog in a...

My Lords, I listened with great interest to the previous debates and would once again like to pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale, for everything that he has done in this matter. I only wish his measure was on the statute book. We would, perhaps, not be having...

My Lords, I listened with great interest to the previous debates and would once again like to pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Redesdale, for everything that he has done in this matter. I only wish his measure was on the statute book. We would, perhaps, not be having...

I reassure my noble friend that these dogs are wonderful so long as you take firm action. If she wishes to visit me, I assure her that she will escape totally unharmed and much loved.

I reassure my noble friend that these dogs are wonderful so long as you take firm action. If she wishes to visit me, I assure her that she will escape totally unharmed and much loved.

My noble friend knows how highly I regard him, but I really do not think I shall accept his invitation, which was made so gallantly.

I hope that my noble friend the Minister will have realised that this problem has continued to grow and grow since the 1991 Act, the passage...

My noble friend knows how highly I regard him, but I really do not think I shall accept his invitation, which was made so gallantly.

I hope that my noble friend the Minister will have realised that this problem has continued to grow and grow since the 1991 Act, the passage...

My Lords, I support and thank my noble friend Lady Oppenheim-Barnes, who has been a stalwart in the campaign on this over many years.

There are problems with the amendment but it raises an important issue that we will come back to. After many years of discussion, the issue remains...

My Lords, I support and thank my noble friend Lady Oppenheim-Barnes, who has been a stalwart in the campaign on this over many years.

There are problems with the amendment but it raises an important issue that we will come back to. After many years of discussion, the issue remains...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Oppenheim-Barnes for moving this amendment and other noble Lords for their contributions.

The purpose of the amendment is to extend the definition of “dangerously out of control”, found in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and used to determine whether an offence has been...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Oppenheim-Barnes for moving this amendment and other noble Lords for their contributions.

The purpose of the amendment is to extend the definition of “dangerously out of control”, found in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and used to determine whether an offence has been...

I am very grateful to my noble friend for his extremely helpful remarks, particularly in relation to what is already in the 1991 Act, which might be one of the easiest ways to address this. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

I am very grateful to my noble friend for his extremely helpful remarks, particularly in relation to what is already in the 1991 Act, which might be one of the easiest ways to address this. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Moved by

Lord Taylor of Holbeach

56M: Clause 98, page 71, line 5, at end insert—

“(iii) in paragraph (b), for “two years” there is substituted “the relevant maximum specified in subsection (4A)”;

(e) after subsection (4) there is inserted—

“(4A) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), the relevant maximum is—

(a) 14 years if a...

Moved by

Lord Taylor of Holbeach

56M: Clause 98, page 71, line 5, at end insert—

“(iii) in paragraph (b), for “two years” there is substituted “the relevant maximum specified in subsection (4A)”;

(e) after subsection (4) there is inserted—

“(4A) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), the relevant maximum is—

(a) 14 years if a...

My Lords, government Amendment 56M relates to the maximum penalty for dog attacks. Following an amendment tabled in Committee in the House of Commons by Richard Fuller, Defra consulted over the summer on possible increases to the maximum sentences for offences under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991...

My Lords, government Amendment 56M relates to the maximum penalty for dog attacks. Following an amendment tabled in Committee in the House of Commons by Richard Fuller, Defra consulted over the summer on possible increases to the maximum sentences for offences under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991...

The most important thing is to recognise that the prosecution of these cases is in the hands of the prosecuting authorities and adjudication of sentences is in the hands of the court. But there are particular aspects to the legislation. The noble Baroness

asked me whether there was something comparable:...

The most important thing is to recognise that the prosecution of these cases is in the hands of the prosecuting authorities and adjudication of sentences is in the hands of the court. But there are particular aspects to the legislation. The noble Baroness

asked me whether there was something comparable:...