§ MR. JAMES HOWARDasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether the Privy Council, in view of the increased movement of cattle about to take place, and the consequent risk of disease again spreading and becoming unmanageable, the Department will consider the desirability of simultaneous action throughout the Country for stamping out foot-and-mouth disease by the issue of an Order in Council directing the slaughter of all animals at present affected with the disease, in accordance with the powers vested in the Privy Council by section 29 of the Act of 1878, and also directing, for a prescribed period, the establishment of an efficient cordon around each infected farm or place, under the powers vested in the Privy Council by section 32 of the same Act?
§ MR. DODSONThe Privy Council have urged upon Local Authorities the necessity for prompt and vigorous action, at the present time for getting rid of foot-and-mouth disease by slaughter, or by effective isolation and regulation under police superintendence of infected places. There appears to be no such general disposition among stockowners, and still less among the public, to adopt a universal compulsory system of slaughter for foot-and-mouth disease as would warrant the issue of an Order of the stringent and sweeping nature proposed.
§ MR. JAMES HOWARDwished to know, whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that in the Northampton Market on Monday last some 20 or 30 animals affected with foot-and-mouth 1647 disease were discovered; and also, whether he was aware that there were only 391 cattle and 289 sheep affected with foot-and-mouth disease at the present moment, and that only an outlay of something like £3,000 was necessary in order to stamp out this malady? The hon. Gentleman likewise gave Notice that on Monday he would repeat the Question he had placed on the Paper; and that, if necessary, he would then move the adjournment of the House, with a view to calling attention to this subject.
MR. J. LOWTHERinquired when the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill was likely to be put clown on the Paper with a view of being considered on an early day in Committee? He also wished to know whether the right hon. Gentleman could give a formal contradiction of the report, which was very widely spread, that the Government did not seriously intend to press the measure this Session?
§ MR. DODSONsaid, that he had only heard the report in question that moment from the lips of the right hon. Gentleman. With regard to getting forward with the Bill, the right hon. Gentleman, if he had observed the proceedings of the House, must have known that it had been put down on the Paper every day, but that the Government had had no opportunity of bringing it on. They had also given Morning Sittings for the purpose of getting into Committee on the Bill; and if the Government had not succeeded it had been from no fault of theirs. The Prime Minister had thrown out a suggestion that there might be a Morning Sitting for making progress with the Bill in Committee on Tuesday after the House re-assembled. That would be a matter for arrangement hereafter; but he trusted that they might be able to get the Speaker out of the Chair before then. With respect to the Question of the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, the Privy Council had heard that morning that on a farm at Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire, 25 out of 30 animals purchased at the Northampton Market on the 29th ultimo were found on the 2nd instant to be affected with foot-and-mouth disease. The total number of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain was on March 29, the date of the latest complete Return, about that 1648 stated by the hon. Member. A very large proportion, however, of that number was contained in one county, and a comparatively large number in a few other counties. Those counties did not appear disposed to adopt a system of slaughter.
§ MR. JAMES HOWARDagain asked if it had been officially reported to the Privy Council that 20 or 30 animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease had been discovered at Northampton Market?
§ MR. DODSONMy information is what I have stated.
§ MR. JAMES HOWARDsaid, he would repeat the Question on Monday.