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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of animal inspectors in the East Midlands.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Local Authorities, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the police all have powers of entry to inspect complaints of suspected animal cruelty and to take forward prosecutions.

It is for local authorities, such as those within the East Midlands region, to determine how to prioritise their resources as well as the number of animal inspectors they appoint under the Animal Welfare Act. Local Authorities must be able to make decisions based on local needs and resource priorities and the arrangements that work best for them.

We do not hold data centrally on the number of inspectors appointed under the Act.