§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Minister of Agriculture how many horses were exported to the Continent from this country for butchery during each of the past six months; from which ports, respectively, they were exported; and at what slaughterhouses, respectively, the same were killed and in what manner?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe following statement shows the number of horses exported to the Continent during the six months ended 31st March, 1932, the number intended for immediate slaughter; the ports whence they were shipped and the ports of destination. No statutory declaration is required as to the purpose for which horses are shipped, and the numbers given as being intended for immediate slaughter are derived from information obtained by the Ministry's inspectors.
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Port of Shipment. October. November. December. January. February. March. Totals. Destination and port of Arrival for immediate slaughter. Number shipped. Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped. Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped. Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped. Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped. Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped Number for immediate slaughter. Number shipped Number for immediate slaughter. Folkestone … 229 — 373 — 72 — 52 7 290 10 14 6 1,030 23 Boulogne. Goole … 94 31 14 14 21 12 20 5 96 — 101 2 346 64 Rotterdam. Harwich … 154 — 20 — 77 — 68 — 69 — 157 — 545 — Hull. … 41 8 10 8 11 9 31 6 1 1 7 5 101 37 Rotterdam. Leith … 186 166 195 195 117 90 38 37 49 38 31 20 616 546 Rotterdam—511. Amsterdam—35. London … 191 166 102 88 50 46 110 104 61 45 51 40 565 489 Rotterdam. Totals … 895 371 714 305 348 157 319 159 566 94 361 73 3,203 1,159 I have no precise information as to the individual slaughterhouses to which the animals were sent. I am informed that all the horses slaughtered at the Boulogne abattoir are killed by the mechanical killer. In Holland the use of the mechanical killer at all slaughterhouses is required by law.