MR. CHARLESDARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Dutch Government have notified that the cattle of the Netherlands are now free from foot-and-mouth disease; and whether, in these circumstances, he can give any indication as to the date at which the present Order, prohibiting the importation of Dutch cattle, can be revoked, and their import allowed?
§ MR. CHAPLINYes, Sir. We received a notification from the Government of the Netherlands that the Vaals District was free from foot-and-mouth disease on the 11th of November; but the disease is prevalent in Belgium, near the frontier, and I am advised that a sufficient time has not yet elapsed since the receipt of this notification to justify me in at once removing the prohibition on the importation of animals from the Netherlands; but there will be no desire, I can assure the hon. Member, on the part of the Board to continue the present restrictions beyond the time at which they can be relaxed with safety.