Written question asked by Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 26 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 March 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 March 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many checks on meat and plant imports were carried out in each of the last five years; and how many imports were found to be illegal. - Includes figures. (Holding answer 1 March 2002).

Answer: Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many checks on meat and plant imports were carried out in each of the last five years; and how many imports were found to be illegal. [39508] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 1 March 2002]: We do not hold figures for the last five years. Between November 2000 and October 2001, 19,140 checks were made at Border Inspection Posts and 458 of these were rejected. In terms of personal baggage, since April 2001, 1,142 seizures of illegally imported animal and plant products have been made.

Secondary information