I thank the Minister for those very helpful comments. I suggest broadening the approach to include, for example, pet food manufacturers and vets. Clear guidance should be printed on everything—a bit like tobacco warnings—and there should be more use of advertising. As the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Teresa Pearce), who speaks for the Opposition, said, people are not aware that they can use ordinary bins. There needs to be signage on ordinary bins to show that they can be used for dog poo waste. There should be a graphic on all these things.
I have explained what we need to be doing. It is really important that we get feed-in from countryside landowners,
farmers and, as I said, vets and pet food manufacturers. Let us exploit the good will that is out there for those of us who love our pets. I would not mind reading on the side of my dog food tin about how to dispose of dog poop. We should all have that information. It should become a matter of course for this practice not to be tolerated. As the hon. Lady said, it is exactly like jettisoning stuff out of a car window. That used to happen such a lot, and it still does happen, but not as much.
Let me close with the poem that the Forestry Commission likes everyone to read:
“If your dog should do a plop, take a while and make a stop, just find a stick and flick it wide into the undergrowth at the side.
If your dog should do a do, you don’t want it on your shoe, find a stick, pick a spot, flick into the bushes so it can rot.
If your dog should do a poo, this is what you should do, just find a stick and flick it wide into the undergrowth at the side.
If your dog should make a mess there really is no need to stress. Find a stick, pick a spot, flick into the bushes so it can rot.”
With that, I rest my case, Mr Hollobone.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House has considered dog fouling.
5.11 pm
Sitting adjourned.