§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to introduce legislation to make it an offence for any carrier to carry live animals into the United Kingdom in a manner which does not conform to the recommendations of the International Air Transport Association Live Animals Manual, and impose upon the carrier the responsibility for inquiry that such recommendations are fully implemented.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI have been asked to reply. The hon. Member will be aware that Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport. To this end, Regulations to safeguard welfare during air transport are being drafted, and the powers being sought in the current Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will enable them to be extended to all the species to which the Convention relates.
My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland are determined to ensure that the welfare of animals carried by air is safeguarded, and, while we cannot undertake to do so in the way the hon. Member proposes, I would assure him that his suggestion will be considered carefully. I am grateful for his interest.