§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many primates, broken down by species, were imported from Israel into the UK in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003 to date; and if she will make a statement. [143915]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer given 15 December 2003]130 primates were imported from Israel in 2002 and 115 in 2003 to date. All the specimens in question were Crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis).
Primates may be imported only by a zoological or scientific institution under strict conditions. These are that the specimens are kept or bred exclusively for the purposes of educational display, conservation of the species or scientific research.
The specimens referred to have been imported solely for the purpose of scientific research.