HC Deb 25 May 1966 vol 729 cc471-2
60. Sir J. Gilmour

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many store cattle have been imported from Eire to Scotland in each month of this year; and what is his estimate of the number to be imported each month during the rest of this year.

Mr. Willis

As the Answer contains a number of figures about shipments of store cattle in the first four months of this year, I shall, with permission, circulate that part of my reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

It is not possible to make a worthwhile forecast of numbers of store cattle likely to be imported in the remaining months of this year.

Sir J. Gilmour

Is it not a fact that under the recent agreement with Ireland a requisite number of store cattle are to be imported into this country? If we do not know what progress we are making, how shall we implement the agreement?

Mr. Willis

We have to wait to see how the agreement is operating before we start to form conclusions from it.

Following is the information: The numbers of store cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland in the first four months of this year were:—

Direct from Republic of Ireland Ports Through Northern Ireland Ports
January … 7,656 2,435
February … 6,842 1,632
March … 7,791 1,324
April … 2,695 1,260
The numbers of cattle shown as coming via Northern Ireland refer to consignments of cattle in transit through Northern Ireland on their way to Scottish ports.