HC Deb 03 August 1965 vol 717 cc284-6W
66. Mr. Hazell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures for June 1964 showing the percentage of agricultural holdings in England and Wales with no workers, with no regular whole-time workers, with no whole-time male workers but one or more other regular workers, with one regular whole-time male worker, two or four regular whole-time male workers and five or more regular whole-time male workers, respectively; and what proportion each of these groups represents of all regular whole-time male workers, and of all workers in the industry.

Mr. John Mackie

The following is the information:

months of October 1964 and 30th June, 1965, of chilled and frozen beef, mutton and lamb.

Mr. Hoy

In the period 1st October 1964 to 30th June 1965, United Kingdom imports of beef, mutton and lamb were as follows:

Thousand tons
Beef and Veal
Fresh and chilled 115.1
Frozen 108.1
Mutton and Lamb
Fresh, chilled and frozen 297.0
Total 520.2

The figures available do not distinguish between fresh and chilled beef nor between fresh, chilled and frozen mutton and lamb.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the total tonnage of exports of beef, dead and alive, respectively, from the United Kingdom to the Continent between the months of October 1964 and 30th June, 1965; how many carcases were prime beef eligible for subsidy; how many were bulls and cows, respectively; from which ports the exports

Port Cattle Sheep
Clean Other Clean Other
head tons* head tons* head tons* head tons*
London 50 10 31,100 7,780 74,000 1,480 5,500 170
Boston 15,800 3,950 46,300 11,570 18,700 370
Bristol 450 110 2,000 500 2,100 40
Colchester 3,050 760 200 ..
Harwich 450 110 950 20
Hull 9,250 2,310 2,400 600 1,150 20
Newhaven 2,300 570
Plymouth 200 50 400 100
Gt. Yarmouth 16,800 4,200 15,050 3,760 19,750 400 3,200 100
Dundee 11,600 2,900 750 190
Leith 150 40 100 30 200 .. 400 10
Others (including airports) 400 100 100 30 25,250 510 200 10
54,700 13,670 104,000 26,000 142,300 2,840 9,300 290
Total 39,670 tons* Total 3,130 tons*
* Estimated Dressed Carcase Weight. Less than 5 tons.

Only clean animals are eligible for subsidies under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme and a small proportion of these would not reach the required standard. Export statistics do not distinguish between cows and bulls, or between ewes and rams, which are covered by the above figures for "other" animals.

Exports of carcase beef, and mutton and lamb to the Continent in the same period were 6,900 tons and 1,600 tons respectively. It is not possible to specify took place, with respective tonnages; and how many of his Department's inspectors were working at each port to check on the hygiene and animal safety regulations.

(2) what was the total tonnage of exports of mutton, dead and alive, respectively, from the United Kingdom to the Continent between the months of October 1964 and 30th June 1965; how many carcases were prime lamb eligible for subsidy; how many were ewes and rams, respectively; from which ports the exports took place, with respective tonnages; and how many of his Department's inspectors were working at each port to check on the hygiene and animal safety regulations.

Mr. Hoy

United Kingdom exports to the Continent of cattle (excluding cattle for breeding) and of sheep in the period October 1964 to 30th June 1965 were as follows:

the ports from which these exports took place neither is any information available on the quality of the beef, mutton and lamb exported.

No veterinary officers are employed exclusively on the inspection for fitness to travel of live animals for slaughter. This work is carried out by the general body of Veterinary Officers and Local Veterinary Inspectors of the Agricultural Departments as part of their normal duties.