HC Deb 10 April 1885 vol 296 cc1302-3
MR. BIRKBECK

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether the restrictions on the importation of live animals from the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, and Geestemünde have been withdrawn; and, if so, whether Germany has been declared free from foot and mouth disease?

MR. TREVELYAN

The Order prohibiting importation from the three ports has been revoked in consequence of the cessation of foot-and-mouth disease in Hamburg, and of the measures which the German Government have taken to prevent the exportation of animals from any district in which foot-and-mouth disease exists. It is not necessary that a country from which animals are admitted for slaughter should be absolutely free from foot-and-mouth disease. All that is required is that the circumstances are such as to afford reasonable security against the importation therefrom of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease.

MR. BIRKBECK

asked what steps the Government had taken to obtain official information as to the prevalence at present of foot-and-mouth disease throughout Germany?

MR. TREVELYAN

As regards the recent prevalence, we are in possession of the German Returns; and as regards the prevalence at the moment, I stated to the House a little while ago that all our Consuls throughout Germany are directed to communicate with the Government by telegraph as soon as there is a new outbreak, and since that Order was issued there have only been three such communications from the whole of Germany.