§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the fact that a number of cattle, the property of small fleshers, are being condemned on account of the disease known as tuberculosis; that the fleshers, through no fault of theirs, are thus deprived, in many cases, of their means of subsistence; and whether the Government will take some action to compensate fleshers thus deprived of their cattle, taking into con- 1678 sideration the fact that compensation is given to owners of animals destroyed under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI think the hon. Member must have been misinformed. No cattle that I am aware of, the property of small fleshers or others, are condemned or have been condemned on account of tuberculosis. What has happened, I believe, is this—that in the case of certain animals which have been bought apparently in perfect health tuberculosis has been subsequently discovered after the animals have been killed, and the meat in consequence has been condemned as unfit for human food by the Sanitary Inspector. The loss in that case to the butcher is very serious, and it appears to be exceedingly hard upon him. But I am afraid it is one of the risks which are incident to the trade, and lam not aware that it is in the power of any authority to compensate persons for any losses which have arisen under those circumstances. I am inquiring into the matter, however, and I am to receive a deputation on the whole question very shortly in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board, after which I shall be better able to pronounce a more definite opinion.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider this case in connection with the Bill lie is about to introduce; for taking further powers?
§ MR. CHAPLINNo, Sir. It would be impossible for me to deal with this question in connection with the Bill, which I have already laid on the Table, with regard to pleuro-pneumonia. The two questions differ greatly in many respects, but I shall give to the hon. Member's question most careful attention, with the hope of its being possible to take some measures with regard to it at a later period.