HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1349-50W
Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions have resulted from seizures of ivory and ivory products in each of the last five years. [153055]

John Healey

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 6 February 2004,Official Report, column 1082W.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what disposal methods have been used for ivory tusks and products seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise since 1999. [153056]

John Healey

Ivory tusks and products seized by Customs are destroyed by incineration, apart from small quantities donated on request for medical and other scientific research or to museums and zoos for educational purposes. In addition, Customs retain a few samples for public education and staff training purposes.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2004,Official Report, column 496W, on ivory, what type of ivory products were seized; and what information he has collated on the country of origin in each case. [153093]

John Healey

I very much regret that my answer of 28 January 2004,Official Report, column 354W, inadvertently contained an incorrect figure. The table gives the corrected information.

Ivory tusks Other items containing ivory
Calendar year Number of seizures Number of items seized Number of seizures Number of items seized Total number of seizures
2003 7 22 23 126 30
2002 4 5 18 74 22
2001 6 8 27 649 33
2000 6 19 19 84 25
1999 7 12 11 13 18
Total 30 66 98 946 128

The 1,012 ivory items seized by HM Customs and Excise since 1999 consisted of the following:

Number
Elephant tusks 17
Knives 2
Jewellery 66
Statues 33
Carved ivory 44
Piano keys 411
Other parts of musical instruments 8
Furniture 7
Other ivory pieces 258

In addition, Customs seized the following items, which are treated as ivory for the purposes of recording seizures:

Number
Rhino horn 1
Walrus tusk 3
Hippo tusk 15
Other tusks 30
Hippo teeth 117

Information on the country of origin of the products seized is not available.