§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that renewed complaints have been made to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and to kindred societies in Rotterdam and Antwerp, as to the condition in which old horses are shipped from the eastern ports of this country, and particularly from Goole and Grimsby; and if he will instruct the inspector of the Board of Agriculture to fulfil to the letter the Orders in Council and the instructions of his predecessors with a view to reducing to a minimum the sufferings of these animals on the voyage, and the prevention of the export of animals afflicted with actual disease.
(Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) I have not received recently any communication from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on this subject, but my attention has been called to the letters respecting it which have appeared in the Field newspaper during the last few weeks. It is the duty of our inspectors, in pursuance of their instructions, to keep the Orders governing the exportation of horses continuously in view, and to take every possible means of securing their efficient enforcement by the local authorities. I do not think there is any failure of duty on their part in this respect. I may perhaps be allowed to express my entire 1358 sympathy with the hon. Member in his desire that the evils of the trade in question should be reduced to the lowest possible point.