HC Deb 06 March 1952 vol 497 c67W
65. Brigadier Peto

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a recent case where 140 donkeys were imported from Ireland to this country for re-export to the Continent for slaughter and which were found by his port veterinary inspector to be unfit to travel; and whether he will issue a new order to prevent the cruelty at present involved in this traffic.

67. Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to make an order under the Diseases of Animals Act to regulate the import of horses and donkeys from the Republic of Ireland.

68. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to issue an order regulating the import of horses and equine animals into this country from Ireland.

Sir T. Dugelale

Only 18 of the 140 donkeys recently exported from Eire were presented to my veterinary inspector for examination and all were rejected as ineligible for shipment to the Continent, though not on the ground that they were unfit to travel. The donkeys had previously been examined by veterinary officers of the Goverment of Eire before shipment from Eire, and I am informed that every one was found to be fit to travel.

I hope to make in the near future an Order ensuring suitable conditions of travel for horses and donkeys brought into this country by sea. My powers in this respect are limited to the protection of animals from unnecessary suffering on the journey and I have no general power to regulate the importation of horses from Eire.