HC Deb 16 June 1997 vol 296 cc70-1W
Mr. Charles Kennedy

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals have been detected being smuggled into the country in each year since 1974. [3458]

Dr. John Cunningham

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of dogs, cats and other rabies susceptible mammals known to have been illegally landed in Great Britain in each year since 1974 is as follows:

Dogs Cats Other rabies susceptible mammals
1975 143 38 20 incidents involving 563 animals
1976 118 45 42 incidents involving 138 animals
1977 60 17 13 incidents involving 115 animals
1978 57 27 17 incidents involving 35 animals
1979 70 39 25 incidents involving 452 animals
1980 51 34 18 incidents involving 277 animals
1981 56 22 23 incidents involving 88 animals
1982 45 30 15 incidents involving 43 animals
1983 56 36 16 incidents involving 17 animals
1984 28 30 11 incidents involving 14 animals
1985 44 37 21 incidents involving 109 animals
1986 50 27 18 incidents involving 34 animals
1987 26 25 17 incidents involving 92 animals
1988 93 16 16 incidents involving 75 animals
1989 38 28 13 incidents involving 93 animals
1990 59 40 12 incidents involving 92 animals
1991 72 39 16 incidents involving 23 animals
1992 60 33 11 incidents involving 46 animals

Dogs Cats Other rabies susceptible mammals
1993 50 39 13 incidents involving 56 animals
1994 70 39 7 incidents involving 14 animals
1995 59 44 8 incidents involving 13 animals
1996 60 20 14 incidents involving 14 animals

In respect of farm livestock and horses the information is not available for the earlier part of the period in question and could be obtained only for the later part at disproportionate cost. But we believe the number which could be classified as smuggled is extremely small.