§ MR. DUCKHAMasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether, upon inquiry, the administration of the laws of Germany "are such as to afford reasonable security against the importation therefrom of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease," in pursuance of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1884?
§ MR. TREVELYANFrom the communications which have been received from the German Government the Privy Council are satisfied that the laws and the administration of those laws in Germany, and the circumstances generally, are such as to afford a reasonable security against the importation therefrom of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease; otherwise the Privy Council would be called upon to prohibit the landing of animals from that country, or from a specified part thereof, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of the Act of 1884.
§ MR. DUCKHAMCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what regulations have been adopted in Germany?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, the House would gather from his answer that the information of the Government was to the effect that Germany was practically free from disease; but that it was necessary that reasonable security should be taken against the introduction of disease to this country.
§ MR. CHAPLINDoes it not continue to prevail in Germany?
§ MR. TREVELYANYes; and has been for a long period; but no disease has been introduced here with German cattle. Foot-and-mouth disease has prevailed in Germany during the whole of 1884, and during that year 500,000 sheep were landed in this country from Germany.
§ MR. CHAPLINasked whether they were to understand that, in the opinion of the Government, the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany was no bar whatever to the reasonable security contemplated by the Act?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, that, if he were to answer the Question briefly, it was no bar to security.