§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether 1303 the restrictions on the importation of live animals from the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, and Geestemünde have been withdrawn; and, if so, whether Germany has been declared free from foot and mouth disease?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. TREVELYANThe Order prohibiting importation from the three ports has been revoked in consequence of the cessation of foot-and-mouth disease in Hamburg, and of the measures which the German Government have taken to prevent the exportation of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. BIRKBECKasked what steps the Government had taken to obtain official information as to the prevalence at present of foot-and-mouth disease throughout Germany?
§ MR. TREVELYANAs 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.