§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that a letter was sent from the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council to the Local Authority of the North Dublin Union, to the effect that it is of the highest importance, in the interest of the Irish cattle export trade with Great Britain, that every possible step should be taken to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia, and, under the circumstances, inviting the Local Authority to take into consideration the compulsory slaughter of 42 head of cattle that at present remain in five pleuro-pneumonia infected places in that Union; whether he is aware that the Local Authority have resolved not to cause their slaughter; and, seeing that the interest of the Irish cattle export trade with Great Britain is seriously affected by the frequent outbreaks of that fatal disease amongst Irish cattle in Great Britain, whether the Privy Council will forthwith enforce the provisions of Clause 6 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Amendment Act of 1886 in Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The facts are substantially as stated. It appears from the minutes of the last meeting of the Local Authority that they proposed to take the matter into further consideration on the 6th of April; but they will be asked to do so at an earlier date. The question as to how far the provisions of Clause 6 of the Act of 1886 can be enforced with the least inconvenience and expense is at present engaging the attention of the Privy Council Veterinary Department.