§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) for each year since 1980, how many prosecutions have been brought against(a) United Kingdom residents and (b) United Kingdom visitors for attempting to evade United Kingdom quarantine laws.
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report for each month over the last three years the number of animals in quarantine in the United Kingdom;
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 2 March 1988]: The information provided relates to the rabies quarantine controls. The details of prosecutions brought by the local authorities and notified to my Department are:
Number of prosecutions of which: British citizens Foreign citizens Airlines etc. 1980 75 13 45 17 1981 74 21 42 11 1982 52 10 32 10 1983 73 20 40 13 1984 29 5 23 1 1985 77 21 49 13 1986 75 20 51 4 1987 42 9 26 7 Information about the number of animals in quarantine in the United Kingdom each month over the last three years cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. However, during the last three years the following import licences have been issued for animals subject to the rabies quarantine requirements:
Number of import licences issued 1985 1986 1987 dogs 4,630 4,738 5,249 cats 2,527 2,329 2,927 other mammals 28,195 39,193 95,999
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special measures have been proposed to ensure that animals cannot enter the United Kingdom either illegally or accidentally(a) while the Channel tunnel is being constructed and (b) when the Channel tunnel has been opened.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 2 March 1988]: Eurotunnel has agreed to take measures to prevent animals gaining access to this country through the Channel tunnel during the period of construction and also when it is in use. These include the use of sealed trains, the installation of physical barriers and grids at entry and exit points, regular inspections, rigorous cleaning programmes, the continuous deployment of baited traps in both tunnel and terminal areas and facilities to detain and inspect animals. Discussions on the details and 729W specifications are still in progress. The Government will insist on diligent application of these safeguards to ensure that they are fully effective.
Customs and Excise officials will carry out checks, as they do at other ports of entry, to prevent the illegal importation of animals through the tunnel.