§ Norman BakerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the sentencing guidelines for those involved in the illegal trade of animals and animal products; [122659]
(2) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for involvement in the illegal trade of animals and animal products in each of the last 10 years. [122660]
§ John HealeyHM Customs and Excise is responsible for enforcement of the restrictions on import and export from or to countries outside the EU on goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in274W Endangered Species (CITES) and EU Regulations made to implement the Convention. They are not responsible for the enforcement of controls on trade within the UK or EU. Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department. Since 1993, Customs have mounted 12 prosecutions relating to the illegal importation or exportation of endangered species resulting in 18 convictions.
Year Number of prosecutions Number of convictions 1993 2 3 1994 2 2 1995 2 6 1996 1 1 2000 1 1 2001 2 2 2002 2 3