asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to provide Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' inspectors with the authority to enter a house where he or she has reason to believe that a dog or other animal is being ill-treated.

The Government applaud the fine work done by the RSPCA in the field of animal welfare. However, any increase in powers of entry is a considerable infringement of personal liberty and we do not believe it would be right to give the society's inspectors a power of entry in cases of possible cruelty to animals.