§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether SS "Free Enterprise VIII" left the port of Dover in Force 9 and 10 gales on 12th November with 398 live sheep and 327 live calves en route for slaughter in Europe.
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, except that these animals were exported for further rearing and not for slaughter. I understand that the ship's master decided that no injury or suffering was likely to be caused to the animals by the bad weather and that the Department has since been informed that all the animals arrived safely and there have been no complaints about their condition on arrival from the veterinary inspectors at the port of disembarkation.