HC Deb 22 June 1992 vol 210 c1W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegally imported animals have been discovered by customs officers at each passenger terminal at Heathrow Airport in each of the past five years.

Sir John Cope

The discovery of illegally imported animals in the passenger terminals at Heathrow airport by customs officers is a rare occurrence because the airlines report illegally landed animals direct to Customs and to the Corporation of London's animal quarantine station before they are allowed to leave the aircraft. They are then taken direct to the animal quarantine station.

The numbers of animals landed illegally were as follows:

Year Number
1991 160
11992 83
1 To 17 June.

Records do not distinguish between terminals arid are not available for earlier years. Only one of the animals concerned was discovered by Customs officers in a terminal.