§ MR. GERALD BALFOUR (Leeds, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he proposes to take any action in view of the facts laid before him by a deputation on the 24th instant relative to the disease of tuberculosis in cattle?
§ MR. CHAPLINYes, Sir; I stated to the deputation that the first thing, in my judgment, to be done was to obtain an authoritative opinion as to how far and at what stages of the disease meat derived from animals suffering from tuberculosis was unfit for and dangerous as human food, and that I would consult with my right hon. Friend and my Colleagues without delay as to the most satisfactory means of obtaining such an opinion. I have taken an early opportunity of doing so, with this result: that as this is a question primarily affecting the public health, my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board proposes to institute a scientific inquiry into the question without delay.