HL Deb 16 June 1975 vol 361 cc661-3
Lord de CLIFFORD

My 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 their joint inquiry with the French Government into the exposure by BBC 1 of the cruelty and suffering to sheep exported live to France and subsequently conveyed across France is now complete, what are their findings and what steps have been taken to ensure that no further occurrences of this nature take place either to sheep or cattle in France or elsewhere in Europe.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, a thorough investigation has been carried out into the allegations made in the BBC programme. The evidence pointed to a breach of French law and the French authorities are taking appropriate action. British animal welfare regulations had not been broken, but following the incident our export procedures have been tightened, especially by requiring exporters to declare in writing the exact final destination of every consignment of animals. Arrangements have also been made for still closer liaison with the French authorities.

Lord de CLIFFORD

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Perhaps he will scrutinise these applications closely, because it would be good to know how a licence was issued when everybody knew the markets from which these sheep were being bought, who was buying them and exactly where they were going.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, first of all I would pay a tribute to the BBC programme, which was a very efficient and objective piece of reporting. The Government are grateful that it has brought the question into the open. I have gone into this question carefully, and the loophole had already been spotted. The Department were in the process of tightening up the procedure for issuing certificates.

Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Parliamentary Animal Welfare Group is re-showing the BBC film in the Grand Committee Room at six o'clock this evening? If my noble friend has not had the opportunity to see the film, he may care to go and look at it. Then I think that his judgment of the reliability of French assurances may be a little modified.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I have, of course, seen the film. I may say that the French, who are just as keen on animal welfare as we are, are anxious to co-operate and that a prosecution is already under consideration by the French authorities.