HC Deb 16 December 1994 vol 251 cc864-5W
Mr. Olner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support his Ministry is providing to encourage expansion of the United Kingdom slaughter industry.

Mrs. Browning

Since there is over-capacity in the slaughter industry, the demand will be determined by the market place.

Mr. Olner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated number of animals transported live for slaughter from the United Kingdom in(a) 1993, (b) 1983 and (c) 1973; and what was the total numbers of carcases exported for each of those years.

Mrs. Browning

Data on numbers of animals exported for slaughter and on numbers of carcases are not available. Figures for total recorded numbers of animals and weight of meat exported are given in the table. The figures given for live animals may be too low and are being investigated. I shall write to the hon. Member to inform him of the results of this investigation.

(a) 1993 (b) 1983 (c) 1973
Live animals exported Number Number Number
Cattle 391,130 240,154 174,837
Sheep and goats 662,982 92,991 134,964
Pigs 151,149 571,245 55,533
Poultry 20,450,736 11,274,078 6,330,613
Horses etc 13,801 8,900 12,247
Weight of meat exported Tonnes Tonnes Tonnes
Beef 182,654 186,016 65,478
Mutton, lamb and goat meat 95,060 43,317 27,376
Port 97,417 44,638 11,604

(a) 1993 (b) 1983 (c) 1973
Poultry meat 81,499 22,834 2,712
Horsemeat etc 1,189 7,055 1,402

Source:

H M Customs and Excise.