§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the crew of the Dina 510W Khalaf, which left Poole for the Falkland Islands on 22 September 1983 with a cargo of livestock, were employed exclusively as skilled stockmen on each of the two decks on which the livestock were housed, as laid down by the Animals (Sea Transport) Order 1930, article 2(xix).
§ Mrs. FennerIn relation to a vessel on which animals are carried from a port in Great Britain, article 2(xix) of the Animals (Sea Transport) Order of 1930, read with article 1(2), requires that in addition to the crew necessary for working the ship, a sufficient number of qualified attendants should be carried to tend to the animals properly. Paragraph 28 of the report of the accompanying veterinarians, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House—Vol. 52, c. 323—records that three out of the eight crew were cattle handlers.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fish and Food whether the height of the cattle pen barrier which an Arab horse on board the Dina Khalaf which left Poole for the Falkland Islands on 22 September 1983 negotiated was at a height of 3ft loin in accordance with the Animals (Sea Transport) Order 1930.
§ Mrs. FennerYes. While I understand that in a letter published in theVeterinary Record on 3 December it was recorded that the barrier was only 3ft 6in., my Department has been told by the veterinary surgeons who accompanied the shipment that the barrier was measured as 3ft loin in height.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the Arab horse on board the Dina Khalaf which sailed from Poole to the Falkland Islands on 22 September 1983 was wearing a strong head-stall with ropes attached on each side and properly secured in conformity with article 4(101 of the Horses (Sea Transport) Order 1952 at the time of her escape.
§ Mrs. FennerI have no further information about the haltering of this animal at the time of its escape than that contained in the report of the veterinary surgeons who accompanied the voyage.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated length of road-sea-road journey involved in sending live animals for slaughter to those parts of Italy which traditionally make such purchases; and what recent estimates he has made of the likely total time for such journeys.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have made no estimates of the theoretical times or distances involved, nor would it be profitable to do so. Decisions on the granting of licences for exports of live food animals overland to Italy will be made on each individual application submitted to the Department, taking into account all the relevant information including the proposed journey and the arrangements for feeding and watering animals en route. No licence will be granted unless all the arrangements for transporting the animals to their final destinations are shown to be such as to protect them from unnecessary suffering.