§ MR. CHARLES DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the Vice Chamberlain whether it is the intention of the Lords of the Privy Council to permit toe import of live sheep from the Netherlands, and not to require them to be slaughtered at the port of landing, on 1810 the ground that the sheep of the Netherlands are now free from foot-and-mouth disease; and whether the Lords of the Privy Council intend no longer to enforce the law concerning the slaughter of infected animals at ports of landing, but to permit the entrance of live sheep from countries free from disease, and absolutely to prohibit those coming from infected countries; and, if so, whether any provision will be made for the hundreds of people who will be thrown out of employment round Deptford Cattle Market?
§ VISCOUNT LEWISHAMThe Amendment Order of March 1, which does not come into effect until June 1, will admit sheep from the Netherlands without slaughter at the port of landing, and at present the landing of all animals from Germany, including sheep, in this country is prohibited. Under the provisions of the Contagious Diseases of Animals Acts, animals may be landed for slaughter from all countries if not prohibited by Order of Council, and the Privy Council have no power to alter the law in this respect. The Privy Council are bound to exempt from these regulations any country which complies with the conditions laid down by the Act of 1878. At the present time these countries are Scandinavia and Canada, and the Netherlands from the 1st of June next. The Privy Council are not in a position to make any provision for persons who may be affected by any Order passed by them in the exercise of the duties imposed on them by Parliament.