To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received on pet vaccination intervals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received on pet vaccination intervals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 831W, on special protection areas: cats, whether (a) his Department, (b) the Planning Inspectorate and (c) the Homes and Communities Agency has provided guidance to local authorities on...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 831W, on special protection areas: cats, whether (a) his Department, (b) the Planning Inspectorate and (c) the Homes and Communities Agency has provided guidance to local authorities on...

Adjournment debate on classification within the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Adjournment debate on classification within the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

I open this debate by thanking the Minister and his colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. It would appear that not only are they highly competent and hard-working Ministers, but they have a crystal ball, because the majority of what I intended...

I open this debate by thanking the Minister and his colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. It would appear that not only are they highly competent and hard-working Ministers, but they have a crystal ball, because the majority of what I intended...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho) on securing this very well-timed debate. She is not only psychic but assiduous in her work on behalf of her constituents, and not least on this issue, which has caused widespread concern throughout the United Kingdom. The debate provides...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho) on securing this very well-timed debate. She is not only psychic but assiduous in her work on behalf of her constituents, and not least on this issue, which has caused widespread concern throughout the United Kingdom. The debate provides...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 831W, on Special Protection Areas: cats, what guidance the European Commission has provided on the (a) implementation of the European Habitats Directive and (b) appropriateness of banning...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2010, Official Report, column 831W, on Special Protection Areas: cats, what guidance the European Commission has provided on the (a) implementation of the European Habitats Directive and (b) appropriateness of banning...

I understand that point, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This is an extremely important issue, and I simply wished to illustrate that one thing that we can do is assist people in making their own decisions and in being equipped to keep their independence in their own home. That includes being able...

I understand that point, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This is an extremely important issue, and I simply wished to illustrate that one thing that we can do is assist people in making their own decisions and in being equipped to keep their independence in their own home. That includes being able...

It is a privilege to support the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on behalf of the Opposition. The Bill has been drafted cleverly and concisely, and it addresses many of the concerns that we have heard today. Some areas could be tightened up,...

It is a privilege to support the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on behalf of the Opposition. The Bill has been drafted cleverly and concisely, and it addresses many of the concerns that we have heard today. Some areas could be tightened up,...

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's maths is correct. I was not presenting the figures as an excuse, but simply as an illustration of the work of the Cinnamon Trust. It is true that 750 out of 18,500 is a small proportion, but I just wanted to make the...

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's maths is correct. I was not presenting the figures as an excuse, but simply as an illustration of the work of the Cinnamon Trust. It is true that 750 out of 18,500 is a small proportion, but I just wanted to make the...

Unless I misheard the Minister, her statistics are pretty damning. My arithmetic suggests that if those statistics are accurate, only one in 20 care homes is pet-friendly. Does that not underline the need for legislation along these lines?

Unless I misheard the Minister, her statistics are pretty damning. My arithmetic suggests that if those statistics are accurate, only one in 20 care homes is pet-friendly. Does that not underline the need for legislation along these lines?

I shall be brief, as requested by both sides of the House, but I wish to support this important piece of legislation. I commend the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on the Bill. As he has said, the health benefits for elderly people—and the wider community—are well known, and...

I shall be brief, as requested by both sides of the House, but I wish to support this important piece of legislation. I commend the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on the Bill. As he has said, the health benefits for elderly people—and the wider community—are well known, and...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on bringing the Bill before the House, and my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) on introducing a previous, similar Bill—the hon. Gentleman has already acknowledged my hon. Friend's contribution. Organisations such as Blue Cross, the Dogs Trust and...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on bringing the Bill before the House, and my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) on introducing a previous, similar Bill—the hon. Gentleman has already acknowledged my hon. Friend's contribution. Organisations such as Blue Cross, the Dogs Trust and...

I am sure that it was not intentional, but the Minister suggested that these issues concern only older people in sheltered accommodation, but of course there are younger people, often with specialist physical or mental needs, for whom a pet is an essential part of their lives. Sometimes, however, they...

I am sure that it was not intentional, but the Minister suggested that these issues concern only older people in sheltered accommodation, but of course there are younger people, often with specialist physical or mental needs, for whom a pet is an essential part of their lives. Sometimes, however, they...

I greatly support the aims of the hon. Gentleman's Bill. Does he know what proportion of care homes have banned pets? I certainly agree with him about the importance of the matter, having recently visited a home in my constituency. An animal is not just good for the owner but...

I greatly support the aims of the hon. Gentleman's Bill. Does he know what proportion of care homes have banned pets? I certainly agree with him about the importance of the matter, having recently visited a home in my constituency. An animal is not just good for the owner but...

I am most grateful for that intervention. The hon. Gentleman is right. Some charities—the hon. Gentleman may have come across them—bring pets into care homes for a couple of hours so that residents can pet and play with them. Clearly, there is a benefit from that. I cannot help him...

I am most grateful for that intervention. The hon. Gentleman is right. Some charities—the hon. Gentleman may have come across them—bring pets into care homes for a couple of hours so that residents can pet and play with them. Clearly, there is a benefit from that. I cannot help him...

As I said, I support the hon. Gentleman's Bill, but I have a little trouble with the wording of this aspect of it. In Committee, will he consider including the size of animals or the breeds of dogs? He mentioned that a giant rottweiler is not exactly the same as...

As I said, I support the hon. Gentleman's Bill, but I have a little trouble with the wording of this aspect of it. In Committee, will he consider including the size of animals or the breeds of dogs? He mentioned that a giant rottweiler is not exactly the same as...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, although I have come across some fairly vicious Yorkshire terriers in my time, particularly when out canvassing. I will be happy to take that on board in Committee. Basically, animals must be of a species authorised by the Secretary of State, so we...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, although I have come across some fairly vicious Yorkshire terriers in my time, particularly when out canvassing. I will be happy to take that on board in Committee. Basically, animals must be of a species authorised by the Secretary of State, so we...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, and his comments have reminded me to say something else in praise of pets: they provide much to all of us, whatever our age. As the hon. Member for Eastbourne rightly pointed out, however, there is a group about which we should be particularly...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, and his comments have reminded me to say something else in praise of pets: they provide much to all of us, whatever our age. As the hon. Member for Eastbourne rightly pointed out, however, there is a group about which we should be particularly...