§ MR. W. WHITELAW (Perth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that pleuro-pneumonia has been introduced into Scotland by an Irish cow, he intends to put any restrictions on the movement of cattle from Ireland into Great Britain?
§ MR. W. FIELDHas there been an outbreak in Ireland since September, 1892, as to which I sent a copy of an official letter to the hon. Member who puts the question. It is very unfair to the cattle.
§ MR. H. GARDNERAs to the question on the Paper, there is no evidence that the animal in question contracted pleuro-pneumonia before leaving Ireland, and the morbid appearances of the lungs were, in fact, quite compatible with infection after her arrival in Scotland. With regard to the prohibition of movement from one part of the United King- 528 dom to another, I can only say that I should resort to such a step with the greatest reluctance and in the presence only of the most serious danger; but I may observe that if the policy suggested by the hon. Member were adopted at the present time, it would be movement from Scotland to England, and vice versa, rather than movement from Ireland to Great Britain, which would have to be prohibited.