§ MR. BAZLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether Her Majesty's Government are in possession of information from the Dutch Government and also from the British Minister at the Hague, of no disease whatever existing in the sheep of the whole of the Netherlands; and whether the sheep from the latter country may not forthwith be introduced into the United Kingdom to be slaughtered for food?
MR. CORRYsaid, in reply, that information had been received through the Minister of the Netherlands to the effect that no disease analogous to the cattle plague existed among the sheep in Holland. The plague did, however, prevail among the cattle there to a very considerable extent, particularly in South Holland, and there was no indication that it was diminishing. It was known from experience that sheep were not only susceptible of the disease, but that they also carried it with them from place to place, although not actually affected themselves. Under those circumstances, Her Majesty's Government did not think it would be prudent to allow sheep from Holland to be imported at present into the United Kingdom.