HC Deb 18 May 1976 vol 911 cc495-6W
Mr. Clemitson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the animals declared in the Return of Proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Act as having been illegally imported in 1975 were, respectively, (a) directed into quarantine, (b) re-exported and (c) destroyed.

Mr. Strang

The information is as follows: (a) 100 dogs, 33 cats and 563 other mammals were directed into quarantine; (b) 40 dogs and one cat were re-exported; and (c) three dogs and four cats were destroyed.

Unfortunately the Return of Proceedings for 1975 did not include the animals mentioned at (b) and (c) above; an appropriate reference to them will be made in the Return of Proceedings for 1976.

Mr. Clemitson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the case of animals declared in the Return of Proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Act as having been illegally imported in 1975 and subsequently destroyed, what steps were taken to find quarantine accommodation for them, including contact with animal welfare societies.

Mr. Strang:

The disposal of animals illegally imported is entirely at the discretion of local authorities. If a rabies risk is suspected they can order destruction. Where there is considered to be no rabies risk, the normal procedure would be to assist the animals' owners to make quarantine or re-export arrangements at their own cost. In these circumstances I doubt whether animal welfare societies would be able to help.

Mr. Clemitson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the animals declared in the Return of Proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Act as having been illegally imported in 1975 were, respectively (a) smuggled through Customs and (b) declared at Customs but no permit produced.

Mr. Strang:

The information supplied by local authorities indicates that, of the animals illegally landed during 1975, 11 were not detected until after passing through Customs' controls. Others were either detected at the point of landing or openly declared by their owners.