§ 73. Sir J. Duncanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the amount of imported Argentine meat consumed in Scotland annually.
§ Mr. John HareI regret that this information is not available.
§ 76. Colonel Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent beef cattle in South America are inspected on the farms in accordance with the Bledisloe Agreement, 1928; and what was the average number of carcasses exported each week of last year from South America to Great Britain.
§ Mr. John HareI cannot say precisely to what extent beef cattle for export to Great Britain are inspected on the farms of origin in South America; but as stated in the report of the Gowers Committee, owing to the shortage of veterinary surgeons and the distances to be travelled, a declaration by the farmer is sometimes accepted as a substitute for inspection. We are in close touch with the Argentine authorities, and they are aware of our concern in this matter. The weekly average number of beef carcases imported into the United Kingdom from South America in 1957 is estimated at 20,000.