§ 7. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average weekly number of cattle exported for slaughter on the Continent, and the amount of carcase meat exported to the Continent compared with a year ago; and to what extent these exports have qualified for subsidy.
§ Mr. GodberFebruary is the latest month for which reliable information is available. During January and February this year, about 2,000 head of cattle a week were exported to the Continent for slaughter as compared with about 3,000 head a week during the same period in 1957. This year not more than 10 per cent. of these exports were clean animals eligible for subsidy, whereas last year the proportion was estimated at 15–20 per cent. Exports of meat during the same periods were at the rate of some 360 tons a week this year as compared with 220 tons a week last year. It is impossible to say what proportion of this meat came from animals on which subsidy had been paid.
§ Mr. HurdAs it seems desirable that the trade in meat to the Continent, so far as it has to be done, should be done in carcase meat rather than live cattle, is my hon. Friend's Department doing everything to facilitate that trade rather than the export of live cattle?
§ Mr. GodberWe would gladly do anything to facilitate it in any way we can, but these things are mainly in the hands of the trade. We have not heard of any particular difficulties in this respect. The increase in tonnage which I gave in my first Answer indicates, I think, that this trade is expanding.
§ Mr. ChampionDoes the hon. Gentleman attribute any of the fall in the export of live cattle to the restrictions rightly placed on the trade by the Minister?
§ Mr. GodberThere certainly was an initial reaction to that. The trade has grown again to some extent, but subject to the safeguards. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the implication of his question. Those restrictions were right, and I am sure that that is the general feeling of the House.