asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bull calves, horses, pigs, sheep, day-old chicks and geese were exported live to Italy in the first six months of 1979; and what steps were taken to ensure that they were properly cared for in transit and humanely slaughtered in Italy.

Exports in the period January to June 1979 from the United Kingdom to Italy of animals of the categories mentioned were as follows:

Bull calves	55,010
Horses	153
Pigs	1,954
Sheep	47
Day-old chicks	78,807
Geese	nil

The welfare of these animals was protected by our domestic legislation and by the provisions of EEC directive 77/489 which protects animals during international transport within the European Community and when being imported into or exported from Community countries. The legislation controlling the export of horses from Great Britain is designed to prevent the export of horses for slaughter.Within the European Community, farm animals must be slaughtered humanely in accordance with the requirements of EEC directive 74/577, and any birds slaughtered in premises approved under directive 71/118 are subject to the provision which requires stunning before slaughter.