§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK (Penryn and Falmouth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the reasons which have led to the issue of the recent Order prohibiting the importation of live animals from Spain and Portugal; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to importers and others at Penryn and Falmouth, in Cornwall, and other ports in England, he can hold out any hope of the Order being repealed at an early date?
§ MR. H. T. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)Before my right hon. Friend answers that question may I be allowed to supplement it with another question, of which I have given my right hon. Friend private notice; whether in view of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease owing to the importation of live animals from abroad, and seeing that such importation of live animals amounts to one per cent. of our entire consumption, he will take steps to stop the importation altogether?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI think I can answer my hon. Friend behind me at the same time I answer the question on the Paper. I have been induced to issue the recent Order because of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease on the Continent. The last intelligence which we have received mentions the appearance of the disease in Holland in spite of the rigid precautions against it which are taken by the Dutch Government. The importation of animals from Holland was fortunately prohibited by the Board some weeks ago, and I have now thought it right, as a measure of precaution, to prohibit the landing of animals from the remaining countries of Europe from which the importation is comparatively trifling. I cannot hold out any hope of the Order being withdrawn so long as foot-and-mouth disease prevails on the Continent.