§ 30. Mr. Radfordasked the Secretary of State for War whether with reference to the statement issued by his Department with regard to the disposal of horses no longer needed by the Army, to the effect that a reserve price is fixed sufficiently high to make it unprofitable for them to be bought for export, he has taken into account the possibility of these horses being bought for export to the combatants in Spain and the high prices that may be paid to secure them for this purpose; and will he make a statement?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaSo far as I am able to ascertain, no old Army horses are being bought for export to Spain, nor were any horses exported to Spain from the beginning of 1936 up to the end of last month.
§ Mr. RadfordWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, does he realise that the horses might not be exported from here to Spain, but from here to France, en route to Spain; is he aware that advertisements have appeared in the papers recently for horses and ponies wanted for export, stating that good prices are paid; and does not he agree that the taxpayers of this country are more concerned that our old servants should have decent treatment than that we should receive a small extra amount of money in relief of our taxation?