HC Deb 01 December 1964 vol 703 cc57-8W
Mr. Pounder

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what firm assurances have been obtained from countries with whom agreement for the prohibition of the export of live animals for slaughter have been entered to ensure that such animals are not re-exported for slaughter; and what is the machinery for detecting any breaches.

Mr. Peart

Those countries to which the export of animals for slaughter is permitted have given formal assurances that they will not be re-exported. These are assurances given by one Government to another and as such one would not expect them to be lightly disregarded. In the very few cases where breaches of this assurance have been alleged the Governments concerned have co-operated fully in making inquiries and taking remedial action.

Mr. Pounder

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which are the countries with whom the United Kingdom has entered into agreements for the export of live cattle since the prohibition of such exports for slaughter;

(2) which are the countries to which the United Kingdom exported live cattle prior to the order of 8th June and which have not agreed that such exported animals should not be slaughtered.

Mr. Peart

Exports to Europe from Great Britain of live cattle for slaughter have been controlled since 1957, and confined since that year to Belgium, Holland, West Germany and France. This control was extended on 8th June this year to cover cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter to all destinations, and exports of sheep and pigs for slaughter are now limited to those going to Belgium, Holland and West Germany: the assurances necessary to allow trade in live animals for slaughter to continue have been given by the countries named (in the case of France for cattle only) but not by any other countries.

Exports from Northern Ireland of cattle, sheep and pigs for slaughter were not subject to control before 8th June this year, but are now licensed only to Belgium, Holland and West Germany. The export of animals from Northern Ireland to the Irish Republic is not controlled, except that, when it is known that animals going from Northern Ireland to the Republic are destined for shipment to another country, the same control is applied as if the animals were being sent from Great Britain.