Mr. Fanasked the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to arrange for a team of volunteers from sporting bodies such as the Wild-fowlers Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be earmarked to assist, should an outbreak of rabies occur, in eradication measures.
§ Mr. StrangWe have already had discussions with several such organisations to ensure that their local knowledge and expertise can be made available in the event of an outbreak of rabies among the wildlife in this country.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to amend the wording of Section 6 of the Rabies Act 1974 so as to ensure that a foreigner who has illegally imported a rabies susceptible animal can be detained and prosecuted and the animal destroyed.
§ Mr. StrangPowers to destroy illegally-imported animals, whether owned by a foreign national or not, are provided in the Rabies Act 1974 and orders made under it. The law relating to detention and prosecution does not distinguish between British and foreign nationals.