HC Deb 19 February 1917 vol 90 cc985-7W
Mr.LUNDON

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why sows which were being turned in for fattening purposes before the Order of the Department of Agriculture as to the slaughter of breeding sows was issued, and many of whom, are four and five hundredweight, are not allowed to be killed for home consumption or sold

Ireland, and Scotland during each of the years 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916; and the exports and imports affecting each country, including those between each other?

Mr. BONAR LAW

issued the following tables:

Year. England. Scotland. Ireland.
Pf. galls. Pf. galls. Pf. galls.
1913 … 13,323,007 27,016,885 10,076,839
1914 … 13,381,480 28,266,927 10,286,222
1915 … 12,027,953 26,118,131 9,844,341
1916 … 11,031,133 28,614,074 12,766,481

Direct exports of home-made spirits to foreign countries and British Possessions:

Year. From England. From Scotland. From Ireland.
Pf. galls. Pf. galls. Pf. galls.
1913 … 3,705,349 6,376,678 8,910
1914 … 3,860,260 6,197,504 45,332
1915 … 2,951,411 5,945,432 15,907
1916 … 2,685,688 6,876,915 1,135

to the bacon curers; is he aware that a great number of poor people cannot afford to comply with the Department's Order as to the purchase of a young sow before the old one can be killed because of the cost of keep; and whether steps will be taken to avoid the hardship inflicted particularly on the poor in case they cannot afford to purchase a young sow?

Mr. DUKE

The Order prohibiting the slaughter of breeding sows save under licence issued by the Department of Agriculture came into operation on 15th December last, and is a special war measure carried out under the provisions of the Maintenance of Live Stock Act, 1915. The making of the Order became necessary owing to the fact that breeding stock were being fattened with the object of disposing of them for slaughter, and the Department are not prepared to encourage depletion of the stock of swine in this manner. Licences are granted m cases where the Department receive satisfactory evidence as to the desirability of the slaughter of sows, and provided that each sow has, before the granting of a licence, been replaced by another breeding sow. The Department cannot see their way to alter this procedure, except in cases where a breeding sow is duly certified to be no longer fit for breeding purposes.