§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the alleged offences against the animal quarantine regulations, for which charges were brought in 1975, related to offences concerning failure to complete import forms correctly; and what were the nationalities of those against whom such charges were brought.
§ Mr. StrangIn no case in 1975, in which a charge was brought under the anti-rabies quarantine legislation, was any application for an import licence received by the Ministry.
The nationalities of those against whom charges were brought were:
Under the Import of Dogs and Cats Order 1928–1970:
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- 2 British
- 2 French
- I Italian
Under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974:
- 18 British
- 9 German
- 5 French
- 4 Italian
- 2 Dutch
- 2 Greek
- 1 Bulgarian
- 1 Danish
- I Finnish
- 1 Portuguese
- I Rumanian
- 1 Spanish
- 1 Swiss
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to prevent people importing animals via Ireland as a means of avoiding the British animal quarantine regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangAnti-rabies regulations in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are similar to our own. Officials of my Department liaise constantly with their Irish counterparts to ensure co-ordination of procedures. We and the Irish are equally determined to prevent rabies entering any part of the British Isles.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the cases of alleged contravention of the animal quarantine regulations have been heard before courts empowered to imprison offenders; how many have been heard before magistrates' courts in each of the last five years; and how many of those found guilty have been imprisoned.
§ Mr. StrangFollowing the coming into operation of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 on 5th February 1975, there has been one case—in 1976—heard on indictment at a Crown court empowered to impose imprisonment. The court awarded six months' imprisonment, suspended for one year, and a fine of £200 plus £200 costs or three months' imprisonment for failure to pay within six months.
In respect of cases heard before magistrates' courts, where the maximum penalty is a £400 fine, there were 52 convictions in 1975, of which five carried the alternative of imprisonment for failure to pay the fine. So far in 1976 there have been 30 cases, four of which carried the alternative of imprisonment for failure to pay.
No offenders have yet been imprisoned.
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§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take immediate steps, with the appropriate authorities, to put up large, easily visible signs at the entrances to all ports, harbours, rivers, inlets and marinas, informing incoming boats and their crews and passengers of the animal quarantine regulations currently in force in Great Britain, together with the penalties for their contravention.
§ Mr. StrangI think that it is more important to make this information available to visitors before they leave their departure points abroad, and we continue to make major efforts to do this.776W Nevertheless, leaflets for distribution to incoming boats, and posters for display at arrival points are available to the appropriate authorities in coastal areas.