§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any recent representations on the export of cat skins to West Germany; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodMy Department has received a number of letters referring to the export of cat skins from the United Kingdom. Several of these letters have mentioned West Germany as a destination for these exports.
My Department is aware of a limited trade in cat skins from the United Kingdom which is legitimately carried out by a small number of companies. Cat skins are not subject to export controls, and, because of the limited level of trade, cat skin exports are not recorded under a separate heading in the Customs tariff.
The worrying issue of cat thefts is for the Home Office.