§ Lord MANCROFTasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will re-examine the warnings about rabies given to visitors who might be bringing small animals into this country, so as to ensure there can be no doubt, even to those who understand little or no English, how seriously the matter is regarded here.
§ Lord BESWICKThe Departments concerned have recently devoted considerable time and effort to improving our safeguards against the introduction of rabies to this country. To ensure that people are fully aware of the situation, posters in thirteen different languages, advising travellers of the quarantine laws and the serious penalties for breaches of1010WA them, have been distributed for widespread display at ports, airports and other points of entry. It is also intended that the posters will be displayed on cross-Channel and North Sea ferries and nearby foreign exit points.
Copies of a leaflet on our quarantine regulations have been provided to all our Embassies and Consulates abroad with a reminder to staff of the importance of correctly advising travellers to this country. In addition, since 1st January 1975, all shipping and airlines have been required to ensure that persons responsible for sending or bringing animals subject to rabies control to this country must produce a boarding document, issued by the Agriculture Departments, before the animals are allowed on the ship or aircraft. These measures should help to ensure that our regulations are both understood and complied with.