§ MR. CHAPLINI have to apologize for having addressed a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster before the Notices on the Paper had been disposed of. I have now to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is true that animals suffering from foot-and-mouth disease have been landed in England, at Deptford and Hartlepool, from three separate foreign cargoes on the 11th, 12th, and 17th of this month; and whether, prior to the 11th of February, the country was not free from that disease; what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken, or are taking, to give effect to the Act of last Session, which provides that the Privy Council shall prohibit the landing of foreign animals from any foreign country, whenever they are not satisfied that the condition and circumstances of the same are such as to afford reasonable security against the importation of foot-and-mouth disease; whether, in this case, they were satisfied that there was such reasonable security, and the grounds upon which they formed that opinion?
§ MR. TREVELYANIt is true that three cargoes of sheep, in each of which 870 one animal affected with foot-and-mouth disease was detected, were landed at Deptford and Hartlepool on the 11th, 12th, and 17th of this month. It is also true that, so far as the Agricultural Department is aware, there was no centre of foot-and-mouth disease in this country since the middle of December last. As soon as it was known that an animal affected with foot-and-mouth disease had been landed on February 12, an Order was passed prohibiting the importation of sheep from Hamburg, from which port the cargo had been brought. The cargo landed on February 17 came from Bremen, and immediately on the discovery of the disease among these animals an Order was passed prohibiting the landing of sheep from that port.
§ MR. CHAPLINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government are at the present moment satisfied that there is reasonable security against the introduction of this disease from any ports of the German Empire not now closed?
§ MR. TREVELYANIn reference to the importation of sheep from Germany in the past, the Government are satisfied that reasonable security against the introduction of disease did exist, on the ground that the German Government have taken the most stringent measures to prevent the exportation of disease, and that since October 29, 1883, no case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected among animals landed from any port in Germany, during which time a good deal more than 500,000 sheep came from that country. As regards precautions for the future, the German Government have been informed that the prohibition will be extended to all other German ports unless the Imperial Government can satisfy us that there is reasonable security against the introduction of disease. Special measures have been taken to obtain telegraphic communications from our Consuls abroad direct to the Privy Council of any outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in their respective districts, and all European Governments will be asked to furnish similar information. The Government are perfectly prepared to take any step, however rigorous, if they have reason to believe that sheep affected with disease are likely to be sent to this country from any Gorman port.
§ MR. CHAPLINDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the Government are satisfied that at the present moment there is no risk of disease being imported into this country from any German port whatever?
§ MR. TREVELYANI have given the House the grounds on which the Government consider they have had reasonable security in the past. It is obvious that at this moment the same grounds do not exist; and, therefore, the Government have not lost any time in taking the steps to which I refer, which, I think, are very strong steps, and which, I believe, will be most effectual.
§ MR. CHAPLINI beg to give Notice that I will call further attention to the matter, as I think it has been proved by past experience that the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government have been totally ineffectual.
§ MR. R. H. PAGETWhat has been done with the animals in the three ships in which disease was found to exist? Were they all slaughtered, so as to prevent the possibility of the spread of disease?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe animals were all slaughtered, and the usual precautions were adopted in each case. The Inspectors at the ports showed great diligence in the matter, the ships being disinfected, and an embargo placed upon them to prevent them from being used in the traffic for a reasonable time.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that Her Majesty's Government have called upon the German Government to satisfy them that no danger exists from the importation of animals from other German ports. Time is the essence of the matter, and I should like to know how long it will be before the Government make up their minds to prohibit the importation from any other German ports?
§ MR. TREVELYANThat would depend upon the Reports which Her Majesty's Government receive from their Consuls, and upon the state of the cargoes that may come from the ports. It is most essential for the interests of the German Government, and for the protection of the German sheep trade, to satisfy Her Majesty's Government in the matter instantly, and in the most satisfactory manner.