HC Deb 09 July 1935 vol 304 cc154-5
38. Mr. LOGAN

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the loss of employment at Birkenhead lairages and allied trades due to tariffs on livestock imported from the Irish Free State; and what steps, if any, does he intend to take to remedy this unemployment?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)

The information which I have does not justify the assumption in the hon. Member's question. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the numbers of livestock imported from the Irish Free State and slaughtered in Birkenhead for a four-week period in June of the last five years.

Mr. LOGAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people who kill cattle in Birkenhead do not agree with that statement and that it is definitely stated in the public Press in Birkenhead that only 500 cattle instead of some thousands were killed there last week?

Mr. BROWN

I would advise the hon. Member to study the rather full answer which I have given to him. If he desires to pursue his researches further, I believe the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board have also some information on the subject.

Mr. LOGAN

Is the Minister aware that men are unemployed who were working there before, and is there any possible chance of getting them back to work?

Mr. BROWN

I have dealt with the question put down by the hon. Member, and I have provided a very full answer to it, which I hope he will read.

Following is the table:

Numbers of animals imported from the Irish Free State and slaughtered in Birkenhead for a four-week period in June in each of the last five years.
— Landed. Slaughtered.
Cattle.
June, 1931 8,289 1,574
1932 15,210 1,411
1933 8,127 1,050
1934 9,539 1,832
1935 16,912 2,876
Pigs.
June, 1931 1,904 110
1932 2,822 14
1933 113 —
1934 274 —
1935 683 3
Sheep, Lambs and Goats.
June, 1931 31,194 10,369
1932 51,032 11,066
1933 32,068 7,251
1934 56,388 7,820
1935 31,421 6,637