What discussions she has had with the Kennel Club in the context of the Animal Welfare Bill on the use of electric shock training collars on dogs.

I met the Kennel Club in the summer to discuss the issue of electric shock training collars in the context of the Animal Welfare Bill.

I am sure that the Minister will have heard from the Kennel Club, representing responsible breeders, that there is no justification at any time for electric shock training collars. We will have before us the Animal Welfare Bill in the new year. Can he give a simple commitment that this form of cruelty of electric shock training collars for dogs will be abolished?

I am afraid that I cannot give the hon. Gentleman that commitment. Some contest the claims made against such training collars. Some trainers and individual owners say, for example, that they have used such a collar once and it has prevented their dog from chasing sheep and they have never had to use it again, so they have helped themselves and farmers. There is a debate to be had. We have committed the Government to conducting some research because I am not in favour of banning things unless there is good evidence for so doing.