§ MR. CHAPLINasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, as soon as the Government have ascertained, by careful examination, whether the provisions of the existing Law are sufficient to carry out the Resolution of July the 10th, he will communicate to the House the result of their inquiry; whether he can state approximately within what period they may be expected to come to 559 a decision; and, whether, in the event of any cargo or cargoes containing diseased animals being landed from Abroad in future, he will undertake, on the part of the Government, that the fact of their having been landed shall be published as speedily as possible?
MR. GLADSTONEI am bound to say, Sir, although the hon. Gentleman has complained to-clay of the obscurity of former answers of mine, I am afraid I cannot add anything to their clearness or sufficiency—at all events, nothing that is material. As far as the first two paragraphs of this Question are concerned, they appear to me to convey the idea that slaughter at the port is to be abolished by some general and sweeping act of the Privy Council. Well now, Sir, we cannot adopt a sweeping conclusion of that kind, and we cannot undertake to abolish slaughter at the port. It is not possible for me to say when the examination of the subject in each case by the Department will terminate. I do not know whether my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Dodson) can undertake to say; but I am sure he will be glad to communicate with the hon. Member on the subject, and give him all the information he can. With respect to the last paragraph of the Question, there is no doubt that at one time information of this kind was given to The Gazette, and I believe it could be given again. I would ask the hon. Member to consider that this is a question of public convenience, and to communicate with my right hon. Friend, who, I am sure, will give him every satisfaction.
§ MR. CHAPLINsaid, he would make a point of communicating with the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the subject. The Prime Minister, however, seemed to have misapprehended the first part of the Question. What he (Mr. Chaplin) wanted to know was, whether, as soon as the examination was made, he would acquaint the House with the result of the inquiry, whether it was sufficient or not?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he was not sure what was the best form and method of publishing the result of the investigations; but it was certainly to the public interest they should be made known to Parliament.