§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to public funds in maintaining the six-month quarantine system. [31318]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe annual cost was approximately £435,000 in the financial year 1995–96. This figure includes the cost of policy and administrative work on rabies in the industry's animal health group, some of4W which is not directly concerned with maintaining the six-month quarantine system, but this cannot be separately distinguished.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to reply to the written questions regarding quarantine tabled on 25 April. [32195]
§ Mrs. BrowningI answered one of the hon. Member's questions on 1 May 1996,Official Report, column 571, and the others have been answered today.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has access to animals in quarantine kennels; what plans he has to review these procedures; and if he will make a statement. [26651]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: The RSPCA is not able to enter quarantine premises as of right. However, anyone can go into quarantine premises with the permission of the premises owner. Additionally, licensed quarantine premises, all of which are privately owned, are inspected quarterly by MAFF veterinary officers who have the right to be accompanied by another person authorised by them and assisting them in their duties. I have no plans to change these procedures at present.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been(a) the total number of animals accepted by each quarantine kennel since 1990 and (b) the total number of animal deaths at each quarantine kennel since 1990. [26652]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: The number of animals licensed to enter quarantine in Great Britain from 1990 to 1995 was:
Year Dogs Cats Other mammals 1990 5,999 3,687 150,631 1991 5,290 3,289 63,674 1992 5,175 3,190 61,320 1993 5,738 3,633 35,515 1994 5,554 3,863 31,620 1995 5,394 4,126 81,054 The number of animals which are recorded as having died in quarantine during the same period is:
Year Dogs Cats Other mammals 1990 79 52 3 1991 49 34 20 1992 71 67 1 1993 72 93 5 1994 61 65 4 1995 61 56 4 Information concerning individual quarantine kennels is considered commercially confidential.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met with the Quarantine Kennel Owners Association; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [26654]
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§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: I met members of both the Quarantine Kennel Owners Association and the Quarantine Kennel Professional Associates on 13 May 1996 to discuss animal welfare standards in quarantine kennels.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total revenue received by the Government from quarantine kennels in each of the last five financial years. [26656]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: The only revenue which the Government receive from quarantine kennels is that which comes from their ordinary payment of taxes. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food does not receive any direct revenue from quarantine kennels.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals have been imported into the United Kingdom through quarantine, by country, since 1991. [26650]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: Prior to April 1995, when a computerised licensing system was set up, quarantine records were filed under a manual system. Therefore, the historic information sought cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost. I can, however, tell the hon. Member that, since that date, licences have been issued for the import of animals from 122 different countries. These are:
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Country Number of animals for which licenses have been issued Abu Dhabi 6 Algeria 2 Anguilla 1 Antiqua 5 Argentina 6 Armenia 1 Australia 355 Austria 26 Azerbaijan 2 Bahamas 5 Bahrain 47 Bangladesh 1 Barbados 12 Belarus 5 Belgium 137 Belize 1 Bermuda 21 Bolivia 1 Botswana 14 Brazil 17 Brunei 7 Bulgaria 5 Cameroon 4 Canada 383 Canary Islands 35 Chile 4 China 27 Columbia 5 Croatia 1 Cuba 2 Cyprus 211 Czech Republic 17 Denmark 15 Dominican Republic 1 Dubai 20 Egypt 28 Ethopia 4 Falkland Islands 2 Finland 67 7W
Country Number of animals for which licenses have been issued France 1,528 Gambia 2 Germany 984 Ghana 9 Gibraltar 15 Greece 118 Guyana 4 Hawaii 1 Honduras 1 Hong Kong 165 Hungary 18 India 8 Indonesia 92 Israel 299 Italy 95 Jamaica 1 Japan 275 Jordan 2 Kazakhstan 1 Kenya 19 Korea 4 Kuwait 19 Latvia 2 Lesotho 3 Libya 1 Luxembourg 5 Malawi 15 Malaysia 46 Malta 26 Mauritius 735 Mexico 4 Monaco 2 Montserrat 3 Morocco 2 Mozambique 2 Namibia 5 Nepal 3 Netherlands 207 New Zealand 61 Nigeria 11 Northern Cyprus 5 Norway 42 Oman 28 Pakistan 11 Peru 1 Phillippines 430 Poland 8 Portugal 64 Qatar 18 Romania 2 Russia 34 Saudi Arabia 69 Serbia 1 Seychelles 2 Singapore 67 Slovakia 2 South Africa 389 Spain 293 Sri Lanka 3 St. Helena 1 Sweden 175 Switzerland 5,923 Syria 1 Tahiti 1 Taiwan 10 Tanzania 6 Thailand 11 Trinidad and Tobago 1 Tunisia 3
Country Number of animals for which licenses have been issued Turkey 13 Turks and Caicos 1 UAE 101 Uganda 1 Ukraine 1 USA 9,501 Uzbekistan 1 Venezuela 1 Virgin Isles 1 West Africa (country not specified) 2 West Indies (coutry not specified) 1 Yemen 3 Yugoslavia 2 Zambia 5 Zimbabwe 8
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how regularly quarantine kennels are required to be inspected by MAFF vets; under which legislation; and how many inspections of quarantine kennels by MAFF vets have taken place since April 1995. [26653]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: All 79 quarantine kennels authorised to operate in Great Britain must be inspected by MAFF veterinary staff at three monthly intervals to ensure that the standards required under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 are being maintained. Additional ad hoc inspections may also take place if the Ministry's local divisional veterinary manager considers them necessary. It would not be possible to quantify the total number of routine and ad hoc visits which had taken place since April 1995 without incurring disproportionate costs.
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January 19951 April 19951 January 19961 Country Value (£000) Tonnes Value (£000) Tonnes Value (£000) Tonnes Belgium-Luxembourg 237 68 376 117 368 134 Denmark 242 117 65 33 165 83 Finland — — 60 40 0 0 France 2,191 1,332 2,089 950 1,433 803 Germany 239 169 167 72 132 70 Irish Republic 8,779 3,786 8,814 3,094 7,223 2,107 Italy — — 26 10 52 20 Netherlands 1,805 575 1,376 407 1,130 335 Spain 386 135 96 34 32 17 Sweden — — — — 2 1 Argentina 790 161 1,891 566 1,362 463 Australia 1,690 479 1,395 409 2,151 808 Botswana — — 514 160 2,073 798 Brazil 141 34 1,479 400 598 169 Namibia 422 134 912 299 623 212 New Zealand — — 533 281 361 160 Paraguay — — 59 26 — — Swaziland — — 31 23 219 82 USA. 168 70 277 116 520 256 Uruguay 1,897 591 2,241 886 1,632 587 Zimbabwe 1,102 255 2,793 878 2,199 253 Total 20,089 7,906 25,192 8,801 22,274 7,358 1 Provisional
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to implement a statutory code of practice on animal welfare for quarantine kennels; and if he will make a statement. [26655]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 25 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 26 March, official Report, column 528.