§ 75. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that a number of unbroken Dartmoor and New Forest ponies have recently been exported to Belgium to be slaughtered for food; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to prevent any further ponies from being exported for this purpose, seeing that the ponies, being unbroken, cannot accurately be described as fit for work?
§ Mr. PALINGEight unbroken Devonshire ponies have been exported to Belgium during the current year; none have come from the New Forest. All these ponies were subjected to the usual rigid examination at the port of shipment by the Ministry's Inspector and were certified by him as fit to travel and also to work. The Minister's information is that these ponies were not slaughtered 1370 for food but were sold for use as children's riding ponies and for work on small holdings.