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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds data on the number of people who have been disqualified from owning or breeding pets under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Local authorities are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the pet breeding licensing regime under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018, and they hold information on the number of licences for breeding dogs which have been refused or revoked within their authority area.

The Ministry of Justice collects data on the outcomes of offences tried under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, although published court data does not include information on the number of deprivation or disqualification orders issued by courts using their post-conviction powers.

Defra does not hold data on the number of people who are subject to deprivation or disqualification orders under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 or on the numbers of people whose licence to breed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 has been refused or revoked.