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Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average fine per offence for those found guilty of illegal importation of animals into the United Kingdom in each year since 1978;(2) how many convictions there have been for the illegal importation of animals into the United Kingdom in each year since 1978.
Mr. Soames
I have been asked to reply.The information readily available for the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland, is given in the table. The figures reflect all prosecutions taken under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, the Importation of Equine Animals Order 1979, and the Importation of Animals Order 1977 which have been notified to this Department.
| Year | Number of prosecutions | Maximum fine (£) |
| 1978 | 80 | 1,000 |
| 1979 | 74 | 1,000 |
| 1980 | 63 | 1,000 |
| 1981 | 74 | 700 |
| 1982 | 50 | 1,000 |
| 1983 | 71 | 1,000 |
| 1984 | 27 | 1,000 |
| 1985 | 77 | 1,500 |
| 1986 | 75 | 1,200 |
| 1987 | 43 | 1,000 |
| 1988 | 57 | 1,500 |
| 1989 | 31 | 1,600 |
| 1990 | 45 | 1,000 |
| 1991 | 66 | 2,000 |
| 1992 | 47 | 1,250 |