§ Sir J. HOODasked the Minister of Agriculture to give the monthly figures of the number of horses exported to Belgium during the year 1921; and whether he is satisfied that the cruelties complained of in connection with this traffic have now ceased?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe numbers of horses exported from Great Britain to Belgium in each month during the year 1921 are as follow:—
January … … … 2,715 February … … … 2,723 March … … … 2,205 April … … … 2,329 May … … … 1,471 June … … … 1,340 July … … … 1,511 August … … … 796 September … … … 1,118 October … … … 938 November … … … 688 December … … … 329 Total … … 18,163 I am satisfied that there is now no cruelty connected with this traffic so far as concerns the condition of the horses at the time of shipment and the arrangements made for their feeding and general comfort during transport.