§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been prosecuted as a result of the Ministry's campaign against illegal poisoning in each year since it started; what percentage increase this has been on each of the previous four years; and what has been the cost of the campaign in each year.
§ Mr. SoamesThe campaign was launched in March 1991. It is not possible to identify the reason for a report of a prosecutable offence in every case but the number of people successfully prosecuted each year in England and Wales is as follows:
Calendar years Number 1987 4 1988 5 1989 4 1990 8
Start of campaign Number 1991 3 1992 10 1993 8 1994 2 The estimated Exchequer costs of the campaign's publicity and administration are:
392W
Financial year £ 1991–92 152,000 1992–93 148,000 1993–94 121,000