§ MR. DARLING (Deptford)May I be permitted to draw the attention of the President of the Board of Agriculture to a question of which I have given notice with reference to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, inquiring whether he has seen the resolution of the Bucks Chamber of Agriculture, recommending that cattle should only be allowed to be landed in this country at the foreign 905 animals wharf for immediate slaughter; and if, in view of the serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which has already taken place, he is prepared to act upon that suggestion?
§ COLONEL DAWNAY (York, N.R., Thirsk)I beg to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether it is true that the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was brought into this country in a cargo of raw hides landed at Harwich from a German port and whether steps are being taken to prevent the importation of raw hides from infected countries?
§ MR. CHAPLINIn reply to the last question of my hon. and gallant Friend, I can only say that so far as I know there is not the slightest foundation for the rumour to which he has alluded. I have not therefore taken any steps at present to prohibit the importation of raw hides, and, so far as I can learn, they are imported under conditions that almost preclude the risk of infection. But the question is now under my consideration, and if I am satisfied that there is any danger whatever to be apprehended from the importation of raw hides their importation will be prohibited immediately. The question of my hon. Friend the Member for Deptford (Mr. Darling) divides itself into two parts. In a notice which I have just received from him he asks me if it is true that the Board of Agriculture has agreed to allow cattle within the Metropolitan area to be removed from licensed premises to be slaughtered within two days. Well, Sir, no order that I am aware of to that effect has been issued by the Board. I have had to consider a great number of orders within the last few days, but I am unable to charge my memory with any such order. But I have been informed within the last few minutes, since I came into the House, that the London County Council have passed an order empowering their veterinary inspectors to grant licences for the removal of fat cows from cowsheds, from which their removal would be otherwise prohibited, to be slaughtered within two days. If I may be allowed to do so, I should like to take this opportunity of offering one word of caution against some statements which have appeared in the Press on this subject. I noticed yesterday an article in a Sunday paper calculated to excite grave alarm in the minds of the agricultural community, the greater part 906 of which, so far as I know, was entirely without foundation.
§ MR. DARLINGThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question I asked. It was, whether he had seen the recommendation of the Bucks Chamber of Agriculture, that cattle should not be allowed to be landed at all in this country except at the foreign animals wharf for immediate slaughter, and whether he is prepared to act on that recommendation?
§ MR. CHAPLINI beg the pardon of my hon. Friend, but I had forgotten that part of his question. I have not received any official intimation of that resolution, but I have seen it, and what I have to say at present upon the question of imposing any further restrictions upon the extremely limited number of animals still allowed to be imported from the Continent of Europe is, that it is a proceeding which ought not to be taken except upon serious consideration, and I do not think it is a question which I ought to be asked to decide at a moment's notice.