VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Dogs: Licensing

Asked by Lisa SmartLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 4 September 2025UIN 72480

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of re-introducing the imposition of dog licences.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

We have no plans at this time to reintroduce an annual registration scheme or dog licenses. The old dog licence was repealed by the Local Government Act 1988 because it cost more to administer than the revenue it generated and was in effect an ownership registration scheme. Now that microchipping and registration on a compliant database is mandatory, this is no longer necessary.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim