Clause 68 - Termination of police responsibility forstray dogs
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
9:25 am
Mrs Anne McIntosh (Shadow Minister, Environment and Transport; Vale of York, Conservative)
It is not in the amendment. We are keeping an open mind on the subject; I apologise to the right hon. Gentleman.
Our modest amendment No. 22 would help the Minister. The fact that a dog had a microchip or a collar with its name and address—the sort of detail that can identify the owner—would lead to the presumption that the dog was not a stray.
We urge the Government to accept amendment No. 99, which states:
''It shall be the duty of the local authorities to provide a twenty-four hour dog warden service''.
It might seem blindingly obvious what the Government are asking local authorities to do, but it is well known and understood that the police operate a 24-hour dog warden service and that kennels are open for 24 hours, too. Council offices are usually open only between 9am and 5pm and only certain councils will operate a 24-hour service. Will the Minister elaborate on the additional responsibility of providing an entirely new dog warden service? What estimate has his Department made of the cost of providing a 24-hour service and of the transfer of resources from the Home Office to local authorities? As has already been established in Committee, this will be additional funding for local authorities. Does the Minister envisage that central taxation will fund the 24-hour service which amendment No. 99 makes clear is a de facto requirement of the Bill?