§ Mr. GRANTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the slaughter of ruminants entering the ports of Great Britain and Ireland is the established policy of His Majesty's Government; and, if not, what are the principles governing exemptions to favoured importers?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe policy of the Board in this matter is governed by the provisions of Sections 24 and 25 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, as amended by the Diseases of Animals Act, 1896, which require all animals landed to be slaughtered at the port except such as the Board allow to be landed for exhibition or other exceptional purpose. When animals are allowed to be landed for exhibition the Board require them to be taken to and kept at the premises of a recognised public zoological society. When they are allowed to be landed for some other exceptional purpose permission would only be granted where some special and important benefit was likely to proceed from the landing.