asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many stray dogs have had to be destroyed in each of the last five years.

No central records are kept. However, estimates made by the interdepartmental working party on dogs suggest that about 30 per cent. of strays handled by the police, or about 60,000 dogs, are destroyed every year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local area authorities now have dog wardens.

No information is kept centrally. In 1977 the joint advisory committee on pets in society carried out a survey of local authorities in the United Kingdom which indicated that about 80 local authorities had dog wardens.