HL Deb 10 June 2003 vol 649 cc26-7WA
Lord Rotherwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many additional mobile anti-smuggling detection teams and trained dogs have been deployed by HM Customs and Excise since 11 April when they took over responsibility for anti-smuggling controls on meat. [HL3103]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

To tackle its new responsibilities Customs plans to add an additional four mobile strike force teams of detection staff and an additional four meat detector dogs to the two the department inherited from DEFRA.

Since 11 April, and while recruitment of the new teams is progressed, Customs has adjusted deployment priorities to deal with illegal imports of meat using existing static and mobile teams of anti-smuggling detection staff. The existing meat detector dogs and handlers transferred to Customs on 1 May have also been deployed.

Lord Rotherwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many convictions for the smuggling of illegal meat have been recorded on the central database of HM Customs and Excise since 11 April. [HL3104]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

No convictions for the smuggling of illegal meat have been recorded by Customs since 11 April and it is too early to say whether inquiries into certain seizures made since 11 April will result in prosecutions.