§ Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, old and decrepit horses are from time to time exported from Dublin to this country for transhipment, in order that they may be exported to Belgium and Holland; whether such horses are consigned to Liverpool or to what other English port; and from what port are they so exported to foreign countries?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe exportation from Ireland of horses unfit to undergo the voyage without unnecessary suffering is prohibited by orders made by his Department of Agriculture under the Diseases of Animals Acts, and, so far as the Depart-1966W ment's officers at the Irish ports can judge, shipments in contravention of these orders do not take place. Old horses consigned to Liverpool have been shipped at Dublin from time to time, but no cases have arisen which necessitated interference with such shipments. The Department cannot say whether any of these horses were subsequently exported from Great Britain to the Continent.