To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of present legislation to control killer dogs; and if he will make a statement.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 increased the powers of the courts under the Dogs Act 1871, particularly as regards the destruction of dangerous dogs. The courts have already used these new powers. Last summer, the Government's consultation paper, "The Control of Dogs", reviewed the legislation on dangerous dogs and set out a number of proposals for further action. We are now considering the responses to this paper.