Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that in their report, Airborne Birds, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds discloses that IATA live animals regulations, now mandatory, are still being widely ignored with shocking results: that British Airways are still a serious offender: and whether they will state how many prosecutions have been brought against which airlines with what results, and what prosecutions are pending.
§ Lord STRABOLGIEnforcement of the International Air Transport Association's live animals regulations, mandatory on their member airlines, is a matter for the Association itself. In any cases where animals or birds are brought to this country by air under conditions likely to cause unnecessary suffering, the local authority concerned can prosecute the offending airline under the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973. No central record is kept of these prosecutions but there have been several recent cases, one of which involved birds and resulted in a substantial fine being imposed: other cases involving birds are under consideration.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in setting up local authority reception 616WA centres for animals (including birds) in transit with suitable handling and holding facilities at a restricted number of ports and airports, as has been promised; at which places of entry these facilities will be provided, and when; and whether they will require that all commercial shipments of animals and birds, whether for import or in transit, are housed only in such centres when they are established.
§ Lord STRABOLGIThere is no statutory requirement that local authorities should provide reception centres for animals and birds in transit, nor would it be appropriate to impose such a requirement exclusively on local authorities. Imports of ruminating animals and swine from outside the British Isles are subject to quarantine at approved premises. Other animals susceptible to rabies may be landed only at the ports and airports prescribed in the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 which are required to provide approved temporary holding facilities.
The control of captive birds is governed by the Importation of Captive Birds Order 1976. Although the initial intention was to restrict imports to certain specified entry points, recent experience suggests that this is unnecessary because most imports come through Heathrow, Dover and Folkestone where there are satisfactory facilities. Efforts are being made to ensure that birds proceed speedily to their destination. As delays are minimal, it would seem neither practicable nor necessary to insist on holding facilities at those ports where only occasional importations occur.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that the control and supervision of the import of captive birds under the Importation of Captive Birds Order 1976 will not be diminished or abolished before there has been full consultation with the Advisory Committee and any appropriate voluntary organisations about the implications for the proper protection and welfare of birds.
§ Lord STRABOLGII am happy to give this assurance.
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PLEAS AND ACQUITTALS FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES BY TYPE OF COURT—1975 MAGISTRATES' COURTS THE CROWN COURT Pleading not guilty Pleading not guilty Act and Section Number of persons pleading guilty or not guilty Number Proportion of those pleading not guilty who were acquitted (%) Number of persons pleading guilty or not guilty Number Proportion of those pleading not guilty who were acquitted (%) Police Act 1964 s. 51(1) 7,045 1,457 27 546 225 20 Sexual Offences Act 1956 s. 32 627 43 77 40 28 61† Public Order Act 1936 s. 5 and Public Meetings Act 1908 s. 1(1) 5,149 1,358 57 339 148 28 Theft Act 1968 (Stealing from the person of another)—under £5 855 107 70 116 79 32 —£5 & over 1,186 104 77 166 85 32 (Stealing in a dwelling other than from automatic machines and meters)—under £5 935 48 60 56 16 31† —£5 & over 2,591 219 61 239 91 54 (Stealing by an employee)—under £5 2,808 226 57 202 134 75 —£5 & over 8,589 358 54 1,622 500 59 (Shoplifting)—under £5 45,093 4,941 52 1,232 901 57 —£5 & over 22,277 1,326 50 1,141 487 38 (Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle) 36,181 2,991 72 2,673 706 57 (Handling stolen goods) 19,011 2,085 62 5,087 1,829 51 (Other theft, etc.)—under £5 35,900 3,755 64 1,419 615 61 —£5 & over 41,620 3,568 61 4,194 1,572 56 Criminal Damage Act 1971 s. 1 (Arson) 1,381 218 51 666 140 31 Criminal damage endangering life 23 7 57† 24 5 20† Other criminal damage—£20 or under 23,607 3,443 61 606 252 58 —over £20 14,665 1,815 55 811 315 44 Possession with intent or threat to commit criminal damage 386 80 73 61 39 28† Unfit to drive through drink or drugs: Road Traffic 57,150 2,132 42 2,455 1,234 40 † = percentages based on small numbers.