§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many enforcement officers with responsibility for detection and interception of illegal imports of bushmeat and other illegal meat being carried by arriving passengers are currently employed at each of the three London airports; whether dogs are used in the detection of such meat; and whether these enforcement officers are employed in both red and green Customs channels. [HL3400]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)The current breakdown of local authority enforcement staff undertaking checks on meat and food imports at the London airports is as follows:
Environmental Health Officers Official Veterinary Surgeons Support Staff Heathrow 10 3 10 Gatwick 9 5 1 Stansted 6 1 — The majority of checks are undertaken on commercial consignments in the freight examination area.
Targeted checks on passenger's baggage involving enforcement officers are supported by HM Customs officers and may be undertaken in both red and green Customs channels.
Arrangements are being made to undertake a pilot study into the use of detector dogs in Great Britain to track down illegal imports of meat.