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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the potential merits of regulating the procedure of artificial insemination of canines.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has recently submitted its recommendations for future veterinary legislation to Defra. These recommendations include wide ranging proposals for the regulation of procedures that could be considered for delegation to non-vets, including canine insemination, and regulated as such. Defra officials are currently considering the full package of recommendations before discussing with stakeholders in due course.