§ MR. READsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Privy Council, If all the Claims for Cattle Plague Compensation are settled; and when the final Report on the Cattle Plague—a great portion of which has been in type since May, 1867—will be in the hands of Members; and, whether the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council Office is likely to be permanent; and, if so, why Agricultural Statistics, which cost last year £18,000, the Corn Averages, costing annually £2,700, and other Returns connected with Agriculture, should not be collected through this Office?
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGU, in reply, said, although there were still thirty-one outstanding claims for compensation, the delay was not in the Council Office; it arose from the difficulty of getting the necessary information from the clerks of the local authorities. The final Report on the Cattle Plague was now awaiting only the completion of the medical Report and the illustrations. It was true that portions of it were in type in May, 1867, but those portions consisted only of the statistics for 1865 and 1866. The Report, when com- 1289 pleted, would contain a full history of the outbreak, from its commencement to its termination. It would be in the hands of Members early in the Recess. The Treasury has appointed a Commission to in quire into the desirability of making the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council permanent, and the Commission will meet in a few days. The remaining portion of the Question of the hon. Gentleman he was unable to answer.