§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the implementation of the resolution 144W of 12th July has had on the number of food animals being shipped overseas for slaughter.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe only export licences issued since 12th July have been for animals intended for purposes of breeding or exhibition.
Since 12th July no sheep or pigs have been shipped for slaughter. Cattle have been exported to the Continent for slaughter under licences issued prior to that date, but the number has declined from 30,156 in the three months ending 12th July to 8,528 in the three months following. Shipments for slaughter are at present running at about 250 per week.
Overland transit of live animals from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland is not subject to export licensing control, and these animals now comprise about three-quarters of all recorded exports of live animals from the United Kingdom.