HC Deb 14 February 1882 vol 266 cc630-1
MR. BIRKBECK

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, in the event of foot and mouth disease being known to exist in a foreign country, as in the case of Portugal in October last, he will in future take the necessary steps to prevent a three months' delay taking place before any restrictions are placed on the importation of cattle from infected foreign countries?

COLONEL DAWNAY

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, in view of the outbreak of the disease in the county of Yorkshire through the importation of foreign cattle, and the loss to our home trade from the importation of foreign infected cattle, he will take into consideration the necessity of slaughtering foreign cattle at the port of debarcation?

MR. MUNDELLA

The Question of the hon. Member for North Norfolk is evi- dently framed under an entire misconception of the principle of the Act of 1878 and of what we have done in the case of Portugal. The Act does not provide that the importation of animals from countries affected with disease shall be prohibited, but that all foreign animals shall be slaughtered at the port of landing unless specially excepted by the Privy Council. Up to May, 1881, Spain and Portugal were among the excepted countries; but foot-and-mouth disease having broke out in the Peninsular the exception was immediately withdrawn, and animals from thence were subjected to compulsory slaughter. In fact, at this moment all foreign animals arriving in this country are slaughtered at the port of landing, with the exception of those coming from Canada and the Scandinavian Kingdoms, which are entirely free from disease. The Privy Council do not admit that they have neglected any precaution in the case referred to, and they cannot undertake to adopt any other course under similar circumstances. With reference to the Question of the hon. and gallant Member, I have only just opened his note to me containing the Question. We have no evidence at the Privy Council that an outbreak of the disease has been caused in the county of Yorkshire from the landing of cattle at Hull. He asked whether I will take into consideration the necessity of slaughtering cattle at the port of debarcation. All foreign cattle are slaughtered at the port of debarcation except those coming from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and those coming from Canada, in all of which countries there is no disease.