HC Deb 03 April 1884 vol 286 cc1497-8
MR. KENNY

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, If it is a fact that Irish fat cattle have been excluded from the Newcastle on Tyne market since February 1883, by the local authority of that city; if Irish cattle sold in the Salford cattle market are prevented by the local authorities of the county of Chester from being removed after slaughter to any part of said county, while animals from all other countries may be brought freely; if the local authorities in Glasgow and Greenock have excluded Irish animals from landing at their respective ports from 20th August to 3rd October 1883, and, in case of shipments from the port of Dublin, from 20th August to 17th December 1883; if in such instances the local authorities acted under instructions from the Privy Council; and, whether he will consider how far such instructions, if given, would be in accordance with the spirit of the assurances given by his Grace the Duke of Richmond during the hearing of evidence in the 1878 Commission?

MR. DODSON

Sir, I believe cattle from Ireland have been excluded from the Newcastle-on-Tyne market, though I cannot say since when. With reference to the alleged action of the local authorities at Chester, Glasgow, and Greenock, I cannot give the dates between which certain local regulations were in force. The local authorities do not in those matters act under instructions from the Privy Council. They have full power to prohibit or regulate the movement of animals into their district from the district of any other local authority in England, in Wales, in Scotland, or in Ireland,

MR. KENNY

intimated that on Monday he would put a further Question on this subject to the right hon. Gentleman.

MR. GRAY

Have these local authorities power to exclude cattle from a different country? Ireland is treated not as a country, but a district, although it is sub-divided into several districts.

MR. DODSON

Each local authority has power, if it pleases, to exclude animals from all the rest of the United Kingdom.