COLONEL GILPINsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Member for Morpeth, Whether any intention ever existed at the Home Office during his Secretaryship to grant compensation for cattle slaughtered by the order of the Government Inspector previous to the passing of the Act of this Session; and, if so, what steps were taken to obtain information on the subject?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, in reply, that there was a clause in a Bill of the present Session providing for compensation in the case of cattle slaughtered previous to the passing of the Act, but it was withdrawn. There was a general concurrence of opinion that the matter required further consideration, and that these cases stood on a very different footing from those in which cattle were slaughtered under the Act of Parliament. The Privy 1282 Council called for Returns from the local authorities as to the number of cattle slaughtered and various particulars including the amount, if any, of compensation already received. When he left office those Returns had not been completed.
§ MR. CUBITTsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Returns ordered from the Government Inspectors of Cattle slaughtered last Autumn under their authority are now complete; and whether the Government have come to any decision upon the question of compensation to the owners of cattle so slaughtered?
§ MR. WALPOLESir, the Returns alluded to by the right hon. Gentleman (Sir George Grey) are still incomplete, both as to counties and boroughs. I hope these Returns will be more complete before the Session comes to a close, but until they are complete the Government forbear to form any decided opinion as to what is to be done, although the subject requires the early consideration of Her Majesty's Government.