§ 34. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of Army horses sold in Egypt after the War; whether he can give any estimate of the numbers still alive in that country; and whether he will consider including a small grant in his Estimates for next year in order that these horses may be purchased and put out of their misery?
§ Mr. HACKINGIn the six years 1919 to 1924, approximately 11,000 Army horses were sold in Egypt and Palestine; but I have no means of estimating the number still alive. I regret that Army funds could not be expended on their repurchase, but grants have been made from time to time from non-public funds at the disposal of the Army Council to a private society, the Old War Horse Fund, Cairo, which deals with this matter.
§ Mr. RADFORDWould my right hon. Friend agree that this is unworthy treatment to mete out to the creatures that helped us to win the War?
§ Mr. HACKINGI am only prepared to deal with the position as I find it, and I imagine that very few of these horses are alive now.