HC Deb 04 December 1922 vol 159 cc1203-5
80. Mr. GILBERT

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of old horses shipped from this country to Belgium and other continental ports during the present year; and what is the total declared value of such animals?

Major BARNSTON

As the reply is rather long, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

16,289 horses, of all ages, have been shipped from this country to continental ports during the present year up to 31st October, after being examined by veterinary inspectors of the Ministry immediately before being shipped and passed as fit to travel and to work. This includes large numbers of carriage and riding horses and Army remounts for

— 1920. 1921. 1922 to 31st Oct.
Number of Horses shipped … … 58,689 45,120 16,289
Kilogs. Kilogs.
Horse Carcases France … … 538,909 1,557,648 Not yet known.
Belgium … … 3,884,320 4,817,975
Carcases. Carcases.
Holland … … 1,227 3,666 —

The Ministry also issued a revised Order in December, 1921, prescribing certain stringent requirements with regard to the fitting of vessels for carrying horses, and the arrangements for feeding and watering the animals during transit. The port inspectors go on board the vessels to see that the Order is

foreign Governments. The number of aged horses is not available. According to the Customs returns, the total declared value of 15,200 of these horses (the only figures yet available) is shown as £723,787.

All horses shipped to the Continent of Europe, except special animals accompanied by Jockey Club certificates, are required by the Diseases of Animals Act of 1910, as amended by the Exportation of Horses Act of 1914,to be examined immediately before shipment by veterinary inspectors appointed by the Ministry, and certified by them to be fit to be carried without crueltyandalsoto be capable of being worked without suffering. The arrangements for administering these Acts were entirely overhauled by the Ministry in the spring of 1921, whole-time inspectors of the Ministry being substituted for local practitioners be the officers entrusted with the examination of the animals before shipment. At the same time the traffic was placed under the supervision of one of the senior inspect or so the Ministry devoting his whole time to the work. Since that time it may be confidentlyasserted that no horsehas been allowed to be shipped unless it fulfils the high standard of fitness insisted upon at all the ports of shipment. There have been two important result so this action. The so-called decrepit horse has been entirely eliminated from the traffic, and the trade in live horses, ultimately intended to be slaughtered for food on the Continent, has been replaced to a large extent by the trade in carcases of horses slaughtered on this side. This, is shown by the following figures:—

properly carried out, and voyages are frequently made with the animals by the Ministry's inspectors.

The trade in horses to the Continent is now entirely confined to high-class animals and good working horses. Of the number shipped in 1922, 96 per Cent, were between £20 and £100 per head in value. In view of the great drop in prices of horses both here and on the Continent during the past 12 months, it may be assumed that all these animals were of a good class. The proposal which has recently been largely advertised to impose a tax of £20 per head on these animals would result in the destruction of this trade, which is a perfectly legitimate one.