§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether inoculation of foxes against rabies is a practical method of controlling the disease in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. StrangWe believe that vaccination to achieve a rabies-immune fox population would be impracticable and would be undesirable in a rabies-free country.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many cases of rabies in the last five years can be attributed to the import of live animals from abroad;
(2) how many cases of rabies have been recorded in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years.
§ Mr. StrangNo case of rabies in animals, in or out of quarantine, has been recorded during the last five years in the United Kingdom. Two cases of rabies in humans, recorded in 1975, were due to infection abroad.
§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the spread of rabies across France, he proposes to make anti-rabies vaccinations readily available in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. StrangThere is no existing vaccine which guarantees immunity from rabies, and we do not propose to permit vaccination of animals, other than those in quarantine or for export, so long as this country remains free of the disease. In the event of an outbreak, powers exist under the Rabies (Control) Order 1974 to order compulsory vaccination within an infected area should circumstances justify such a measure. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) on 16th February.—[Vol. 905. c.542–3.]
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§ Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the spread of rabies on the Continent, he will strengthen the number of Customs and Excise officials at ports, airports and marinas to prevent We illegal import of pets into the United Kingdom; whether he will consider substantially increasing the penalties for importing pets without quarantine; and whether he will make available Government facilities for quarantine at reasonable cost.
§ Mr. StrangThe prevention of illegal imports of animals, so vital to our campaign against rabies, is one aspect of prevention of smuggling generally.
Her Majesty's Customs is keenly aware of its importance. I understand that it has no plan at present to increase the number of staff engaged on this work, but it is keeping the matter under review. In co-operation with local and port authorities and the police, it carries out this work vigilantly and efficiently.
On increased penalties for illegal imports, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 15th July 1975.—[Vol. 895, c. 455.] As long as the courts are not making more use of the penalties already available, increasing them still further would not seem appropriate.
We do not propose to provide Government quarantine facilities. Sufficient authorised commercial premises are available.