§ Mr. FREEMANasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of furs imported into this country in 1928; whether he has any information as to the extent to which cruelty is inflicted on the animals before they are killed; and whether he will take powers to prohibit importation where unnecessary cruelty is inflicted?
Description. Total Imports into United Kingdom. Imports retained in the United Kingdom (Imports less Re-exports). Fur Skins, Undressed. Number. Number. Rabbit Skins 51,653,938 13,221,144 Seal Skins 127,957 116,314 Other Sorts 26,256,438 5,542,536 Fur and Other Skins, Dressed (except leather). Furs, Rabbit Skins, dressed 18,275,860 15,933,899 Furs, Seal Skins, dressed 383 (a) (-) 2,175 Skins and Furs, unenumerated, dressed (not leather) 14,823,595 12,395,447 (a) Re exports in excess of total imports in this year. I have no information that would enable me to answer the second part of the question. The suggestion made in the last part would not appear to be practicable.