To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential merit of introducing one centralised database for microchipped and registered pups.

I am aware that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is reviewing the operation of databases for microchipped and registered pups in England. Some of the relevant database operators carry out their activities on a UK wide basis. My officials are, therefore, liaising with Defra on its review and will assess any implications it may have for Northern Ireland.

For now, my Department has no evidence to suggest that there are significant difficulties with how the existing database systems for microchipped and registered pups currently operate within Northern Ireland. I do not, therefore, have any plans to consider the establishment of a centralised database at this time.