§ 2.39 p.m.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in view of widespread opposition to the export of live animals for slaughter they will assure this House that the present embargo will continue.
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL FERRERS)My Lords, the issue of new licences for the export of animals for slaughter overseas has been suspended since July 13 last. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food expects to receive during February the report of Lord O'Brien's Committee on the export of live animals for slaughter and he will wish to consider its contents before taking any further action.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, may I ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any point in the O'Brien Committee continuing to investigate this question at a moment when in fact the export of live animals is suspended?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the export of live animals was suspended as a result of a Motion passed in another place requesting the Government to do just that and to set up a committee to investigate the problems associated with the export of live animals for slaughter. My right honourable friend has done this and I am sure that the noble Baroness realises that he must receive this report before he takes any decision.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that all the information available, which ought to be collected by the O'Brien Report, has been lodged in pigeon-holes at the Ministry of Agriculture for many weeks past?
§ LORD SOMERSMy Lords, may I confirm what the noble Baroness has just said? I know perfectly well that the Minister has received information in overwhelming quantity to prove that he was right to impose the ban. I for one am at a loss to understand why he has not made the ban permanent.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I am aware of the very strong feeling that various noble Lords and other people have expressed. It is because of these strong views, and views that were expressed in another place, that my right honourable friend set up this Committee. But I know the noble Lord, Lord Somers, will agree that not only one point of view but different points of view can be held. It is right that my right honourable friend should consider all the points of view which will have been formulated as a result of setting up this Committee.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, have Her Majesty's Government considered that at this moment, with a General Election pending, it would be of great advantage to the present Government to introduce a measure which would be popular not only in their own Party but in all Parties in both Houses?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I am not sure that the premise on which the noble Baroness based her question is correct, nor am I quite certain whether the measures which she suggested would necessarily prove either as desirable or as popular as she indicated.
§ LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGHMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government give an assurance that in view of the colossal increase in the price of food, anything they decide upon will not mean the beef producers losing more money than they are losing at the moment?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I am quite certain that whatever my right honourable friend does will accord with some people's views, but not necessarily with everybody's views.