§ MR. CARLILE (Bucks., N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the fact that last year 14,840 old horses 29 and 257 donkeys and mules were exported to France for consumption abroad, and that, owing to the improper accommodation on the steamers, and to the fact that these animals are regarded as useless for work, the greatest cruelties exist; and if he will take steps to enforce humane treatment as long as they are under British control?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyDetails as to the actual numbers of old horses or donkeys exported for consumption abroad are not supplied in the annual trade accounts of the United Kingdom. The total exports of horses, however, to the country named by the honourable Member, in the year 1897, were 27 stallions, 1,683 mares, and 2,973 geldings. I have recently caused careful investigation to be made into the conditions under which the trade referred to by my honourable Friend is carried on, and I am in communication with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the subject, with a view to their supplementing, if possible, the information we have ourselves obtained. We shall then, I hope, be in a position to determine whether, so far as the equipment of the vessels is concerned, there is any ground for intervention on our part, and generally to consider what steps are necessary to prevent and punish the offences in connection with the trade.