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Sheep

Volume 930: debated on Tuesday 19 April 1977

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asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated loss of raw material in skins and by-products brought about by the live exports policy; what is the percentage value of the skin of the animal; and what effect the policy of exporting live animals and subsequently importing skins at an enhanced price has had on labour requirements in the industry.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to exports of live sheep. In 1976 exports of sheep could have included 5,000 to 6,000 tons of skins and by-products including waste. The sheep exported represented about 21 per cent. of all United Kingdom slaughtherings of sheep. The labour requirements in the slaughterhouse and related industries depend on a wide range of factors and it is not possible to isolate on a national basis the impact on employment of this small reduction in total United Kingdom animal slaughterings. Recent prices of sheep skins on the United Kingdom market indicate that a slaughterer may obtain between 10 and 20 per cent. of his total return per sheep from the sale of the skin.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that sheep exported live to Germany are being killed shortly after arrival

Number of vesselsNumber of fishermen
YearFull-timePart-timeTotal
19756,68617,0615,07322,134
19766,72716,8425,17522,017