§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many calves have been exported to Europe in each of the last three months and to the nearest convenient date this month; how this compares with the same period last year; what estimate he has made of the effect of this trade on supplies of store stock; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MackieExports of calves are not shown separately in the Trade and Navigation Accounts. However, there were no exports of cattle, other than for breeding, in July and August, 1968. Later figures are not yet available.
Returns made to this Department by our veterinary officers at the ports suggest, however, that the number of calves exported in September and the first two weeks of October is very little (around 1,000) higher than in the same period last year.
This slight increase is outweighed by the reduction in calf slaughter this year. But we are watching the position closely.