§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bulls were slaughtered in Northern Ireland(a) during the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and (b) in the previous 12 month period; and if she will make a statement on the reasons for the differences between those figures. [20346]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe most recent 12 month period for which Northern Ireland bull slaughter figures are available is for the 12 months ended 31 October 1997. During that period 14,375 bulls were slaughtered compared to 29,201 in the previous 12 month period.
There has been a decline in the number of bulls slaughtered in Northern Ireland due to the loss of export markets, following the introduction in March 1996 of the European Union's ban on the export of United Kingdom beef.