§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many simians were imported in each of the last three years; and what arrangements have been made to ensure the absence of communicable diseases.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantImports of apes and monkeys are controlled under the Animals (Restriction of Importation) Act, 1964. The Board of Trade issued licences for 26,325 in 1967, 20,011 in 1968 and 20,112 in 1969. There are no figures to show the extent to which the licences were used. Since 15th December, 1969, their import has also been controlled under the Exotic Animals (Importation) Order, 1969, under licences issued by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Secretary of State for Scotland. Licences are now only issued for these animals to be imported for research purposes. This more stringent control was issued as a precaution against the introduction of rabies, but it also helps to prevent the introduction of other diseases transmissible to man. It will be reviewed when the Committee of Inquiry on Rabies has presented its final report.