§ Mr. ERSKINEasked the Secretary of State for War whether the 30,000 horses which were reported last Session to be in danger of slaughter in Mesopotamia have been slaughtered; and, if not, what has become of them?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSBetween 1st January, 1921, and 15th January, 1922, 25,578 horses and mules were sold in Iraq, some for export to India, but mainly locally. The negotiations for sale for export referred to in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay on 20th July last were not successful. The animals sold locally were all however of types suitable for local use, and there is no reason to fear that they will be improperly treated. During the same period 1,300 animals were transferred to units of the Army outside Iraq, and 14,306 died or were destroyed as unfit or worn out, under the supervision of the Army Veterinary Department.