55. Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the future investment plans of the Steel Corporation.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement about the long-term strategy for the steel industry.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the Government's investment programme for the steel industry.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo. The Government are urgently studying the British Steel Corporation's long-term development strategy and I will make a statement as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretaory of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amounts in tons of imported steel for each of the past 10 years, and the comparable figures of steel exported.
§ Mr. EmeryThe figures show that both imports and exports were rising over the period and that exports reached a record total of 4.7 million tons in 1971.
Following is the information:
veal over the period 1965 to 1971, and for the latest available period of 1972; and what information he has on the extent to which such imports result from methods of animal husbandry and considerations for animal welfare not permitted by United Kingdom domestic law and practice.
§ Sir G. HoweFor the year 1971 and the 10 months January to October 1972 imports of fresh, chilled and frozen veal were 871 tons valued at £582,000 cif and 261W 2,190 tons valued at £1,873,000 cif respectively. Earlier figures are published in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade for the relevant years.
A convention on the protection of animals in intensive rearing is under consideration by a Council of Europe expert committee on which the United Kingdom is represented. We shall seek to encourage the international adoption of animal welfare standards acceptable to us.
UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF LIVE ANIMALS Number of Animals Western Germany Netherlands Belgium France Italy Cattle: For breeding or dairy purposes* 1967 … … … … — — 2 34 180 1968 … … … … — — 4 140 — 1969 … … … … 4 1 26 38 — 1970 … … … … 15 9 201 15 — 1971 … … … … 10 16 381 42 10 For other purposes 1967 … … … … 4,320 29,928 63,328 90 4 1968 … … … … — 531 12,514 4,713 — 1969 … … … … 1,562 22,629 26,328 14,071 — 1970 … … … … 10,911 21,428 25,736 10,858 — 1971 … … … … 418 1,430 7,124 8,767 — Sheep: For breeding (including goats) 1967 … … … … — 20 45 154 63 1968 … … … … 22 — 106 397 — 1969 … … … … — 20 — 1,796 16 1970 … … … … — 22 325 451 12 1971 … … … … 17 — 931 361 39 For other purposes 1967 … … … … — 4,756 35,267 3 — 1968 … … … … — 1,828 59,819 — — 1969 … … … … — 4,435 254,459 484 — 1970 … … … … — 967 124,106 — — 1971 … … … … — 200 42,680 — 232 Swine*: 1967 … … … … 5 — — 159 258 1968 … … … … — — — 469 10 1969 … … … … 5,009 56 16,462 50,824 90 1970 … … … … 2,473 441 29,722 15,191 141 1971 … … … … 3,663 237 584 5,513 1,080 Horses*†: 1967 … … … … 235 3,256 346 882 146 1968 … … … … 488 1,836 528 929 222 1969 … … … … 483 816 341 979 223 1970 … … … … 584 483 264 1,119 295 1971 … … … … 857 841 268 1,080 217 *Animals for breeding are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics. † Including horses temporarily exported for breeding or racing purposes.