HL Deb 18 April 1978 vol 390 c1146WA
Lord STONE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether statistics are available of the numbers of sheep and other farm animals lost as a result of the recent wintry conditions, especially in the North-East of England and in Scotland; and whether these statistics will influence the export of cattle to the Continent as referred to by Lord Houghton of Sowerby in the last debate before the Easter Recess.

Lord STRABOLGI

It is still too early to assess fully the effects of the recent severe weather, but abnormal losses of cattle are very small and none have been reported in North-East England or Scotland. There is therefore no reason to believe they will influence the export of cattle to the Continent, which was the subject of a recent report by the Agricultural Departments of the United Kingdom.

House adjourned at two minutes before eleven o'clock.