§ Sir G. BOWYERasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken and will take to stop the export of worn-out horses to the continent?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONThe export of worn-out horses from Great Britain to the continent is prohibited by the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, as amended by the Exportation of Horses Act of 1914, which prohibits the shipment of any horse unless it has been examined by a veterinary inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and certified by him to be fit to travel and also fit to work. These Acts are being rigidly carried out.
§ Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to instances of cruelty to horses which are exported to the continent from Great Britain; the number of horses exported for the year 1929; and whether any guarantee is given by the buyer abroad as to whether they are to be slaughtered or not?
§ Mr. BUXTONI have been unable to verify any cases of cruelty to horses exported from this country to the continent. The number of horses exported during the year 1929 from this country to the continent was 9,912, of which, I am informed. 4,371 were exported for immediate slaughter. Of this number, 4,342 were shipped to Holland where the use of the humane killer is compulsory, and the remaining 29 to France, where, according to my information, they were slaughtered with the humane killer at the Boulogne abattoir. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.