§ MR. PELLasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, What steps have been taken by the local authority in Lincolnshire to meet the alarming outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in that county, of which he informed the House on the 19th; whether measures now adopted by the local authority are sufficient to "meet the exigencies of the case, and prevent the disease spreading; if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will exercise the powers they possess for stamping out the disorder, and thus protecting farming stock in other parts of England; and, whether he can give the House an approximate estimate of the cost which would be incurred in this instance by killing the diseased animals and selling the car cases?
§ MR. DODSONThe outbreak in question took place among sheep within the limits of a large infected area which had been declared on May 22 upon the recommendation of our Chief Inspector, who had visited the locality and held an interview with the Local Authority in the last part of May, in consequence of a previous outbreak. The Local Authority made Regulations to restrict the entrance and exit of persons into and out of the infected places, for the disinfection of persons, for the isolation of the disease and infected animals, and they employed the police to carry the Regulations into effect. It appeared to the Privy Council that the measures taken by the Local Authority were sufficient. We have since been informed by the Inspector of the district that the 338 diseased sheep have all recovered. The estimated value of the sheep was from £1,100 to £1,200, and the estimated cost that would have been incurred by slaughtering them, allowing for what might be realized by sale of carcases, from £500 to £600. The number of animals in Great Britain known to the Privy Council as affected with foot-and-mouth disease was, for the week ending June 21, 10 in five different counties. The Local Authorities of these several counties have power to slaughter and compensate, and the 1235 Privy Council have written to each urging them to use those powers. I have just heard that one of these Local Authorities has slaughtered the two animals in its district, thus reducing the total number in the country, assuming that there are no concealed cases, and no fresh outbreaks beyond those reported on June 21, to eight.
§ MR. CHAPLINasked whether, in the circumstances, the Government would not consider the propriety of going a little bit further, and not merely urging on the Local Authorities the compulsory slaughter of these animals, but insisting on it under the powers vested in them under the Act?
§ MR. DODSONsaid, they hoped that would not be necessary; but that Local Authorities would use their powers with that discretion which Local Authorities could possess in a greater degree than a Central Authority.