HL Deb 07 December 1976 vol 378 cc520-2

2.54 p.m.

Lord DE CLIFFORD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the reported escape and subsequent recapture of a cat accidentally trapped in a refrigerated TIR Container Vehicle, whether they are satisfied that adequate security precautions are in operation at all inter-Continental Container Depots to prevent such escapes of accidentally trapped animals, when the escape of such an animal, if not subsequently recaptured, could risk the introduction of rabies into this country.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the fact that this incident was reported immediately to the authorities and that prompt, effective action was taken to secure the two cats involved, is in itself evidence of the acute awareness of the rabies risk. The cats were dealt with as potential risks, even though expert assessment of all the facts indicated that they were almost certainly native animals which had entered the container in question after its arrival in this country.

Evidence from other depots confirms the vigilance and precautions taken in respect of container vehicles. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are issuing further instructions to remind all container depots of security precautions and reporting procedures for anti-rabies purposes.

Lord DE CLIFFORD

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. There is a great risk, which a number of us have felt, that container traffic might well accidentally bring in some warm-blooded animal which might be affected. Have guidelines been issued previously as to the care which should be taken, or are these totally new ones?

Lord STRABOLGI

No, my Lords. All meat for human consumption can only come in through designated ports, and all containers are checked by Customs. In fact, all vehicles entering the country are subject to search by Customs officers, but it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Customs to disclose the proportion of vehicles which are actually searched.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend on what evidence the authorities base the opinion that these cats were English cats? May I ask him, for instance, whether the officials said to the cats, "Come here, pussy", or did they address them in German, French and other Continental languages?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the container was refrigerated at minus 18 degrees Centigrade—

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARY-LEBONE

Snow on their boots.

Lord STRABOLGI

—and it had been sealed for 14 days. Expert opinion is that a cat could survive no more than 48 hours at that temperature. There was no sign, also, that any of the meat was chewed.

Lord GISBOROUGH

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether it is still the custom for ships to carry cats to combat the rats, and whether this custom itself does not present a pretty pussy problem?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, in the same way, all ships arriving at our ports are investigated by Customs officers, and it is, of course, a very serious offence under the rabies regulations to take a cat ashore. In fact, there have been cases where prosecutions have taken place.

The Earl of HALSBURY

My Lords, in view of the difficulty that the patriarch Noah had in detecting kittens aboard the Ark, could the noble Lord tell us whether, in the event of these cats being accompanied by kittens, to which nationality the kittens would belong?