§ Q4. Miss Fookesasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of the Environment and the Home Office in moves to combat the spread of rabies to Great Britain.
§ Q5. Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Agri- 668 culture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of the Environment and the Home Office in combating the threat of rabies spreading to the United Kingdom.
§ Q9. Mr. Adleyasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Home Office and the Department of the Environment in moves to control the entry of rabies into Great Britain.
§ The Prime MinisterYes. There is close co-ordination among all the Departments concerned in the campaign against rabies, and among central Government, local and port authorities, and the police.
§ Miss FookesWill the Prime Minister consider the possibility of introducing more severe legislation against those who smuggle animals, possibly the destruction of the pets concerned?
§ The Prime MinisterI welcome the hon. Lady's concern about this matter. This country has been fortunate to be spared for so many years from this dreadful disease. It is a disease which the country is taking seriously. I should be grateful if the hon. Lady would put Questions about legislation to the Minister of Agriculture, who is better informed about the details than I am.
§ Mr. FauldsIs the Prime Minister satisfied with the promptitude and efficiency of the monitoring of this disease through Europe as it sweeps towards our coast?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall draw that to the attention of the Minister of Agriculture. While we have a group of such efficient Ministers, I do not master every detail of every Department.
§ Mr. AdleyIs the Prime Minister aware that a group of 12 hon. Members have been waiting for over a week while the Home Office and the Ministry of Agriculture decide between them who should receive a deputation on this matter? This is at a time when the nation faces the threat of this disease with a police force which does not have powers to arrest people who are suspected of illegally importing animals. It does not even have powers to seize such animals. Will the Prime Minister give that his urgent personal attention?
§ The Prime MinisterI will inform the Minister of Agriculture and the Home Secretary of what the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) has said. I cannot have groups of efficient Ministers and then undertake to do all these things myself.
That seems to be one of the disabilities of Prime Minister's Questions. They roam over a great many matters with which I am supposed to be dealing. [Interruption.] I ask the House to take this seriously, I want Prime Minister's Questions to be serious and I undertake to give serious answers, but I find time and again that I am asked questions which simply do not arise out of the original Question on the Order Paper. I admit that this one does, but I am talking about the generality of questions. If the House could find some way in which these Questions could be more accurately directed, I would undertake to give better answers.
§ Mr. HoosonIs the Prime Minister aware that Continental experience shows that foxes are the main instruments for distributing this disease? Since, for example, in Wales last year between 7,000 and 8,000 foxes were destroyed by fox destruction societies, will he satisfy himself that the Ministry of Agriculture has tied up the problem of the control of foxes and rabies in our areas?
§ The Prime MinisterI am obliged to the hon. and learned Gentleman for calling my attention to this matter. I shall see that the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is directed towards it.
§ Mr. AdleyIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to give notice that I shall seek leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment.