§ 79. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the continuing public anxiety about the treatment of live cattle shipped from this country for slaughter on the Continent, he will now arrange or an inquiry to establish the facts; and if he will consider the desirability of requiring that these butchers' cattle should be slaughtered here and the carcass meat exported.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is continuing to watch the export of live cattle to the Continent; whether he is aware that public anxiety over this matter has not abated in spite of efforts to enforce the regulations; and why it is necessary for these live cattle to be exported for slaughter rather than their dead carcases.
§ Mr. Edward Evansasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the public anxiety at the conditions under which old dairy cattle are exported, live, to the Continent; and whether he is satisfied that the accommodation and treatment of these animals on the voyage is satisfactory judged by reasonable humane standards.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend is at present considering the advisability of an inquiry such as my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) suggests into the export of live cattle for slaughter on the Continent. The desirability of requiring slaughter before export is clearly one that would have to be investigated in any such inquiry. In the meantime, my right hon. Friend is proposing to consult the interests concerned about the feasibility of strengthening the present transit regulations.