§ MR. A. J. BALFOURasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether it is 506 not the case that, though there is no cattle disease in Scotland, nevertheless there are regulations as to the importation of Cattle from Scotland into England which are injurious to the Scotch producer and the English consumer, and which are not necessary for the protection of the English producer; and, whether it is the intention of the Government to take any steps and remedy this state of things?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, there is no foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland, and animals can be removed from that country, or from any healthy part of the United Kingdom, without restriction, into any other part of Great Britain which is not declared an infected place or area. If the movement is into an infected area, the only licence required is that of the local authority into whose district the animals are moved. This licence is required by the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878, Schedule 4.
MR. W. N. NICHOLSONasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether any special instructions have been recently issued as to the disinfecting of the skins of animals suffering from foot and mouth disease that have died or have been slaughtered; and, if not, and if he finds it desirable, will he cause some such instructions to be published?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, Article 55 of the Animals Order provides that animals which have died of foot-and-mouth disease shall be buried in their skins in quicklime or other disinfectant, or shall be disinfected and then taken to be destroyed under the licence and regulation of the Privy Council. Local authorities have no power to order slaughter for foot-and-mouth disease, and, consequently, there are no provisions for dealing with the skins of the slaughtered animals.