Vol. 735 Wednesday No. 264 8 February 2012 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT ORDER OF BUSINESS Questions Dogs: Microchipping Gaza EU: Structural and Cohesion Funds Cyclists: Accidents Health and Social Care Bill Report (1st Day) Gaza Question for Short Debate Health and Social Care Bill Report (1st Day) (Continued) Written Statements Written Answers For column numbers see back page £3·50 Lords wishing to be supplied with these Daily Reports should give notice to this effect to the Printed Paper Office. The bound volumes also will be sent to those Peers who similarly notify their wish to receive them. No proofs of Daily Reports are provided. 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THE INDEX to each Bound Volume of House of Commons Debates is published separately at £9·00 and can be supplied to standing order. All prices are inclusive of postage. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2012, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU; email: [email protected] 251 Dogs: Microchipping[8 FEBRUARY 2012] Dogs: Microchipping 252 Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I assure the noble Lord House of Lords that we take this very seriously. It is an increasing problem. As the noble Lord said, there seven attacks a Wednesday, 8 February 2012. month on guide dogs. Sometimes, of course, the dogs carrying out these attacks are out of control; they are 3pm not even on a lead. The whole purpose of the policy will be to try to encourage responsible dog ownership. Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of Chichester. I am very pleased with the contribution the noble Lord has made to the issue by asking his question today. Dogs: Microchipping Baroness Parminter: My Lords, the number of stray Question dogs in this country has risen to 126,000 and has been steadily increasing for the past four years. Does my 3.05 pm noble friend agree that compulsory microchipping Asked by Lord Hoyle would help local authorities with the spiralling costs of kennelling, and help them reduce the number of To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they healthy dogs they have to put down each year, which will introduce the compulsory microchipping of was 6,000 in 2011? dogs. Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Yes, my Lords, I drew the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, House’s attention to the enormous economic cost of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stray dogs; £57.5 million is spent by charities and local (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): My Lords, we are close to authorities in caring for and finding new homes for finalising a package of measures to tackle irresponsible stray dogs. That is part of the thrust behind our dog owners, and intend to make an announcement proposals, which, as I say, we will be announcing soon. In putting the package together, we have considered shortly. and set out the pros and cons of various approaches The Countess of Mar: My Lords— towards compulsorily microchipping dogs. The final package will cover future government handling of the Lord Renton of Mount Harry: My Lords— issue, as well as plans to improve standards of dog ownership. Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Lords, I think that the mood of the House is that the noble Countess, Lord Hoyle: I thank the Minister for that reply. It is Lady Mar, has been waiting. Perhaps my noble friend very helpful in itself. Taking the old adage that there Lord Renton might speak after her. are no bad dogs, just bad owners, microchipping would The Countess of Mar: My Lords, does the noble certainly make for more responsible dog ownership. It Lord agree that if all puppies were microchipped would also make it easier for dogs that have strayed to before they were eight weeks old, it would ensure that be found by their owners. It would cut down on the they could be traced to their breeders, which would number of stolen dogs. As a Government who are prevent much of the iniquitous practice of puppy seeking popularity, it would be highly popular, as farming? 83 per cent of the public who have been surveyed support this. Lord Taylor of Holbeach: This is certainly a proposal that we are looking at, and I thank the noble Countess Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I am very grateful to the for her contribution. noble Lord for his support for what may indeed be included in the package. It might help the House to Lord Renton of Mount Harry: My Lords, perhaps I know that the cost of rehoming each stray is £1,100. may suggest to my noble friend that the Government The economic cost to this country of irresponsible consider very carefully before insisting on the compulsory dog ownership is enormous, let alone the human microchipping of dogs. Many dogs take badly to damage that can be caused by out-of-control dogs. having a chip in them; they get very sore and so forth. Surely anyone who cannot control a dog should not Lord Low of Dalston: My Lords, is the Minister have one; that should be the course. aware that attacks on guide dogs are now running at Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I am not sure that the over seven a month? The person who first drew this to respondees to the consultation share my noble friend’s my attention said, “What on earth are they doing view on the matter, and I am not sure that the Government putting a tax on guide dogs? Whatever next?”. But share it, either. We see microchipping as one measure actually it is a very serious problem. It can mean a we can take to address an increasing problem. The vulnerable person being left alone, in need of assistance, cost of stray dogs is something that we have discussed. and without a dog for a considerable period of time. The human cost of dog attacks is another matter that The dog may need to be treated, retrained or even the House should bear in mind in considering these withdrawn from service altogether. As each guide dog measures. costs £50,000 over its lifetime, this has huge financial implications. Will the Government consider making Lord Grantchester: My Lords, the House has heard attacks by dogs on assistance dogs a punishable offence many times before from the noble Lord that these in the same way as attacks on human beings? matters will be dealt with soon. May I press him again 253 Dogs: Microchipping[LORDS] Gaza 254 [LORD GRANTCHESTER] Baroness Northover: I have been replying to the on when “soon” may be? I was told that microchipping noble Lord on the issue of water so I am extremely had already started and that six databases were up and well aware of the situation. We are very concerned running. The information on the databases will be about the situation in Gaza and it is a tragedy that useful only if it is up to date and accurate. What plans people are living in such circumstances. Thirty-eight do the Government have to ensure that this will happen? per cent of Gazans live in poverty, 66 per cent depend on food aid, and, indeed, 90 per cent of mains water is Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Some 58 per cent of dogs unfit to drink. We are pressing the Israeli authorities are already microchipped on a voluntary basis. The all the time to try to address these problems. noble Lord asks about timing. When I say “very shortly”, I do mean “very shortly”, but the timing is Lord Avebury: My Lords, last week representations not within my gift. I have clearly flagged up the about this were made even by the UN Secretary-General, possibility of an expansion of microchipping in the which demonstrates once again the futility of all efforts responses that I have given today, and we are working by the international community to alleviate, let alone with everybody to make sure that this will happen. to resolve, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Can my Baroness Byford: My Lords, will the new compulsory noble friend tell the House what replies we have received system apply to dogs coming to this country? If not, to our repeated representations to the Israeli Government? what will the Government do about that? In particular, will the Israelis facilitate the onward delivery of $1.5 million-worth of medical supplies Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Yes, my Lords, the pet which were landed in the port of Ashdod by a Turkish travel scheme requires that all dogs coming to this aid agency last Saturday? country are microchipped.