Major WHITEasked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the difficulty of obtaining on mobilisation sufficient horses for Army purposes, and of the number annually shipped abroad, he will take steps to check such export, more especially in the case of mares, by an export duty or otherwise?
The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR {Mr. Haldane) (for the Prime Minister)The demands of the Remount Department only amount to less than 3,000 horses a year, and, accordingly, these foreign purchases increase the demand for horses and thereby stimulate horse-breeding in the United Kingdom considerably in excess of Army peace requirements. The effect of the hon. and gallant Member's proposal would be to reduce the stock of horses available on mobilisation by giving a severe check to horse-breeding.
§ Earl WINTERTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he recollects promising, in answer to a question put by me in the last Session of the late Parliament, that the Government were going shortly to make a statement on the question of the supply of horses for Army purposes?
§ Mr. HALDANEI shall have something to say upon that on the Estimates.