asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the number of licences issued in 1945 and 1946 for the export to Great Britain of milch cows, heifers and in-calf heifers, and the number of milch cows, heifers and in-calf heifers exported to Great Britain for the same periods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Milch Cows.
The number of licences issued in 1945 and 1946 for the import into Great Britain of milch cows, springing cows and heifers from this country was 35,025 and 34,144 respectively. The number of such cattle exported to Great Britain was 32,575 in 1945 and 31,674 in 1946.
Licences are not required in respect of store or fat heifers, 76,962 of which were exported to Great Britain in 1945 and 73,161 in 1946.
Can the Minister say if the figures that he has quoted in respect of milch cows and in-calf heifers and cows take into account the milch cows and the in-calf heifers and cows sent through Belfast? Can he say if, during the 1945-46 period, cattle were exported to the Continent?
A certain number of licences were issued, in addition to the ones to which I have referred, by the Northern Government to traders who operated through the Belfast market. I am not in a position to say what was the exact number, but I understand they were free to issue in the neighbourhood of 200 per week. I do not think that that number was actually taken up. I am not in a position to give the number of milch cows exported to the Continent in the 1945-46 period, but I think the number, if any, would be very small.