HC Deb 30 May 1960 vol 624 cc972-3
9. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of preparing and printing the Order dated 11th May authorising the landing of one wildebeest and one giraffe at Newcastle-on-Tyne; and by what date he anticipates it will be possible to evolve a Standing Order which will avoid the frequent publication of separate orders such as this.

Mr. John Hare

The total cost of preparing, duplicating and publishing the Order and presenting it to Parliament is estimated at £14. A Standing Order for Chester Zoo will be made very shortly, and as I informed the hon. Member the other day similar Orders may be made in the near future for a limited number of other urban zoos.

Mr. Janner

Cannot the Minister cut out a lot of this red tape and have one or two Orders which will cover all these animals which can be brought into the country? Will he refer to Noah to find out why his lack of restrictions had no deleterious effect on the animals eventually brought into the world?

Mr. Hare

I should have to go a long way to satisfy the hon. Member's interest in this subject. I hope that he will find that the new arrangement which I have made will not make it necessary for him to show this continuous interest in the subject.

Sir G. Nicholson

Is there not something both ludicrous and pathetic in these ill-assorted and exotic immigrants? Does my right hon. Friend take any interest in the health of these immigrants? Can he picture for himself the disquiet caused by a giraffe which has a sore throat? What does he recommend for that?

Mr. Hare

I can assure my hon. Friend that I have considerable sympathy with all types of animals, including giraffes.

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