§ 61. Sir FRANCIS BLAKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of 26 Agriculture whether the export of horses to the Continent has now been resumed; whether he can give the number sent out and the number rejected as unfit during the months of November, December, and January: whether the latter are killed in this country and sent abroad for food; and whether he will consider an alteration in the Law whereby a declaration of the purpose for which each horse is exported shall be made and those intended for food shall be slaughtered in this country?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The total number of horses which have been passed for shipment by the Veterinary Inspectors of the Ministry at ports during the months of November, December, and January was 10,846. The number of horses rejected was 525. The Ministry have no information as to whether these were killed in the country and sent abroad for food. The Ministry do not consider that an alteration of the existing law is necessary, as under the Exportation of Horses Act, 1914, every horse to be exported must be certified by a Veterinary Inspector to be capable of being conveyed and worked without suffering.