– in the House of Commons at on 29 April 1929.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a report from his inspectors stationed at the various ports of the number of horses that were intended for immediate slaughter exported during the six months ended to the last convenient date?
Lieut-Colonel Walter Guinness
, Bury St Edmunds
During the six months ended 31st March, 1929, 4,959 horses were shipped to the Continent from ports in Great Britain, of which 2,607 went to Holland. Inquiries show that of the latter number approximately 90 per cent. were slaughtered on arrival. None of the horses exported to France or Belgium were intended for slaughter.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us the number exported to France and Belgium, and how long after they arrived there were they intended for slaughter?
Lieut-Colonel Walter Guinness
, Bury St Edmunds
Our information was that they were not intended for slaughter in France and Belgium. There has been a great change in the traffic, and there are now three times as many horse car-cases taken to France and Belgium as there were in 1920, and they are encouraged only to bring live horses in if they are wanted to work.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Can the right hon. Gentleman answer my question as to the number of horses intended for immediate slaughter?
Lieut-Colonel Walter Guinness
, Bury St Edmunds
I have answered it. I said inquiries show what percentage were slaughtered. We can only give the figures which we have been able to obtain.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
