HC Deb 10 February 1965 vol 706 cc366-7
17 and 18. Mr. Kimball

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he is aware of the large number of unbroken ponies and foals now exported under special licence of the Exportation of Horses Order, 1910; and if he will accordingly withdraw the Order;

(2) if he will take steps to ensure that all ponies and foals exported from this country are protected by the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, and are exported only from registered ports after individual veterinary examination.

Mr. John Mackie

I am aware that in recent years an increasing number of licences have been granted under the Exportation of Horses Order of 1910. We have the working of this Order under consideration. We are grateful to the hon. Member for his letters and are looking into the figures which he has been good enough to bring to our notice.

Mr. Kimball

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that, while nobody wants to do anything to impede the genuine export of horses and ponies for breeding, people are genuinely worried about disreputable dealers climbing on to this bandwagon and selling horses and ponies abroad for slaughter? Is he aware that the figures which I have already sent to him and which have been compiled by the Horses and Ponies Protection Association show that the f.o.b. price for an unregistered horse is now equal to the killing price for meat on the Continent, which is the factor where the concern lies?

Mr. Mackie

I appreciate the figures which the hon. Gentleman has given to me, but at the same time, apart from our powers to require inspection in the 1950 Act, we have no powers to prevent the slaughter of these animals once exported. It is only this Order which allows the animals to escape inspection when they are destined for slaughter. We are considering the position.