HC Deb 16 May 1994 vol 243 cc295-6W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 412, if she will describe the procedures in place for prosecuting non-United Kingdom companies in breach of the Welfare of Animals During Transit Order 1992.

Mr. Soames

Acting directly or from information received from an inspector of this Department or a local authority, the police have general powers of arrest and detention under section 25 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in respect of non-United Kingdom nationals suspected of having committed an offence under the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992. These powers have been exercised on a number of occasions and offenders successfully prosecuted.

If a non-United Kingdom company has an agent in the United Kingdom authorised to accept service of a summons, it would, according to the circumstances of the case, be possible to bring a prosecution against such a company for offences against the order.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 13 April,Official Report, column 180, to which local authorities statements have been given by her Department's staff with respect to possible prosecutions.

Mr. Soames

Such statements have been given to Hampshire county council.

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