§ Diana OrganTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will list the airports which have facilities to process assistance animals travelling on passports for pets with their owners; [1723]
(2) if he will list the airline carriers which will allow assistance animals to travel on board with their owners under the passport for pets scheme. [1724]
§ Mr. MorleyI have been asked to reply.
440WWhether an airport has the facilities to process animals under the pet travel scheme is determined by the airline which seeks this Department's approval. It is the carrier that is approved, not the airport. An airline wishing to participate nominates a route, including the airport for which it can demonstrate its ability to comply with the requirements of the scheme. This forms the basis of its operational contract and foundation for the Department's approval. It is essential in order to ensure that every animal entering the country under the scheme is properly checked for compliance.
Within the limits of their agreements with this Department, it is a matter for each airline to decide how it transports pets into the UK, in light of its own operational and safety requirements. Some airlines have been able to demonstrate procedures to transport assistance animals in the cabins of their aircraft while meeting all the scheme's requirements. They are British Midland Airways, from Amsterdam, Stuttgart and Paris into London Heathrow airport, Lufthansa from Frankfurt into London Heathrow airport and British European operating an Air France flight from Toulouse into London Heathrow airport.
As additional transport companies and new routes are agreed by the Department, details (including whether they are able to carry assistance animals in the cabin of their aircraft) will be placed on the DEFRA website and made available through the PETS helpline.