§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many sales at which horses have been sold for export have been notified to his divisional veterinary managers between 1 January and 30 September; [2690]
(2) how many premises have been certified by his officials for the sale of horses for export for (a) 1995 and (b) between 1 January and 30 September 1996. [2691]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 7 November 1996:]Divisional veterinary managers were notified of a number of sales of horses in the nine months to 30 September 1996. But no horses were certified for export to other European Union member states directly from those sales.
As at 30 September 1996 there were 41 approved markets in Great Britain with facilities to handle horses for intra-Community trade. Prior to this year, livestock markets were not approved specifically for the handling of horses for intra-Community trade. It is not necessary for sales at which horses are certified for export to non-EU member states to be approved by divisional veterinary managers.