§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prosecutions undertaken in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 to the most recent practicable date against persons who inflict cruelty upon animals in transit either by road or rail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonFigures for such offences are not available separately. The records available to us, which may be incomplete, show that for all offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, including those under section 1(1)(b) relating to animals in transit, 669 persons were proceeded against in England and Wales in 1979 and 809 in 1980. Information for 1981 and 1982 is not yet available. The welfare of animals during inland transit under the provisions of the Animal Health Act 1981 is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.