Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of longer sentences for people found guilty of puppy smuggling.

The Government has zero tolerance for unscrupulous dealers and breeders who abuse the Pet Travel Scheme to traffic underage puppies into the UK. This is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to the smuggled dogs and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk. Defra is working hard to tackle the problem through a comprehensive approach that seeks to target both the supply and demand of illegally imported dogs. This approach includes international engagement, enforcement, public communications and tighter regulation.

We are considering a number of options for improved enforcement as part of a long term strategy for pet travel. This includes the possibility of introducing Fixed Penalty Notices.

We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and the Government has announced that it will increase the maximum custodial penalty for animal cruelty from 6 months to 5 years imprisonment as soon as Parliamentary time allows. This will help deter those motivated to traffic underage puppies into the UK at the expense of their welfare.