§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to make a statement about his Department's inquiries into the deaths of the 79 beagles en route to Sweden referred to in his 539W answer of 1 November, Official Report, column 211, and on any other steps that can be taken to ensure that this possibility does not arise again.
§ Mr. MacleanMy Department's inquiries are now complete. Charges have been laid against three defendants under the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973 and the Protection of Animals Act 1911. I believe that existing legislation provides sufficient safeguards but vigilance will always be necessary to prevent a recurrence of this kind of incident.