Paul Flynn (Newport West) called for a debate on the rules which force owners to leave their pets segregated in animal shelters after bringing them into the country from abroad.

"In the last 25 years, not one single case of an animal going through quarantine has been discovered with rabies but 13 people have come in with rabies," he told MPs during a debate on Commons business.

"It would be more rational to put holidaymakers into Strangeways when they come from abroad rather than this stupid system," he said.

The plight of the owners should be considered, said Mr Flynn.

No change yet

The government had announced that its views on the quarantine rules will probably not be announced until the autumn.

Leader of the House Ann Taylor did not grant him a debate but said a consultation was taking place.

It was a serious subject, she said, and a select committee had published a significant report.

Ministers should consider all the evidence and the House would be told when decisions had been taken.

Consensus on hooligans - nearly

Earlier, Ms Taylor said she had been "alarmed, outraged and amused" at the "ridiculous" comments by the MP for Kensington and Chelsea (Alan Clark) over football hooligans.

Mr Clark had said that English fans were being targeted unfairly by the French authorities and had been "set up".

Liberal Democrat Paul Tyler (Cornwall North) believed it was important for all points of view of Conservatives to be expressed.

Ms Taylor replied that on the issue of football hooligans there could be a degree of consensus among the parties - with the possible exception of Mr Clark.

Also in the debate, Labour's Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow) asked whether it would be possible to have advance warning of any troop deployments in Kosovo.

He asked for an undertaking that no action other than under the authority of the UN and at least with the agreement of Russia would be carried out.

Ms Taylor could not give an absolute undertaking but said the government would try to give the House the facts as soon as possible.

Struggle over backbench Bills

Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, plan to use their Commons debating time next Thursday to lift the block on two key backbench Bills.

They want to win extra time for the Energy Efficiency Bill, aimed at boosting power-saving in homes, and Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill, seeking to regulate the capital's minicabs.

But they look set to be thwarted by the government. Ministers have tabled an amendment opposing any immediate move to change rules on time for Private Member's measures.

Although the two Bills have government backing, they fear a victory for Liberal Democrats could in future open the door to similar action on behalf of legislation they oppose.