HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 cc21-2W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions an application for an import licence under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 has been refused on the ground that an animal is unlikely to survive for any appreciable time if it is kept in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Trippier

The Department has no record of the number of import applications which have been refused on these grounds.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to implement the resolution passed at the seventh meeting of the conference parties of CITES in Lausanne in 1989 regarding the transport of live animals checklist scheme.

Mr. Trippier

I refer the hon. Member to my reply given to him on 29 January 1990 at column68.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria for assessing, in relation to the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976, whether an animal is unlikely to survive for any appreciable time if it is kept in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Trippier

Our scientific advisers, the Nature Conservancy Council, has provided us with a list of species which generally do not survive well in captivity, except in specialist hands. This list was compiled by a committee of experts following consultation with various non-governmental bodies.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what conveniently available figures he has for the annual cost to his Department of administering Council regulation EEC 3626/82; and what proportion of this cost is borne by the importers;

(2) what is the approximate annual cost to his Department of administering the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976; and what proportion of this cost is borne by the importers.

Mr. Trippier

We estimate that the cost to the Department in 1989–90 of administering Council regulation EEC 3626/82 will be £487,000. The cost of administering the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act was approximately £123,000. None of these costs is borne by the importers.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where it is shown that the welfare aspects included in article 4, section 2(c) of convention on the international trade in endangered species in wild fauna and flora have not been met, what representations are made to the CITES secretariat, or the exporting country, to ensure they are met in the future.

Mr. Trippier

When serious deficiencies in the transport of live animals come to light, they are taken up with the veterinary authorities of the exporting country. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 20 December,Official Report, at column 350.