§ Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of of Agriculture how many horses were imported from Ireland in 1951, and to the last convenient date in 1952; how many of these went to slaughter; and for what purposes were the others used.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have been asked to reply. The trade returns distinguish between animals for food and animals not for food. Horses are only shown separately under the second of these headings and imports from the Irish Republic into the United Kingdom numbered 17,029 in 1951 and 4,752 in January to April, 1952. The figures include horses imported temporarily, for example, for racing or breeding.
Imports of live four-legged animals for food, other than cows and calves, sheep and lambs, from the Irish Republic into the United Kingdom numbered 17,015 in 1951 and 6,074 in January to April. 1952. These totals would include any horses declared by importers as being for food and other live animals such as goats and pigs.