HC Deb 22 January 1996 vol 270 c2W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures of tortoises and tortoise products were made by Customs and Excise in 1995. [10153]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Statistics for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species seizures made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1995 are complete only for the first nine months to 30 September. In that period, there were two seizures of tortoise products imported in breach of CITES requirements together with 794 live specimens.

The latter figure includes one large seizure of 674 specimens found in the possession of crewmen on board an east European vessel which called temporarily in the United Kingdom.