SIR A. ACLAND HOOD (Somerset, Wellington)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in the County of Somerset, during the period from March 18 to June 14, there were 74 outbreaks of swine fever, affecting 623 pigs, as against six outbreaks, affecting 28 pigs, in the corresponding period of last year, and 12 outbreaks, affecting 70 pigs, in the first quarter of this year; and whether the information in his possession still shows that swine fewer in this country is on the decrease?
§ MR. H. GARDNERWith regard to the County of Somerset, I may say that the figures cited by the hon. Baronet agree substantially with those in the Official Returns, and in that county a marked increase in the amount of the disease is undoubtedly shown. With regard to Great Britain as a whole, the number of swine attacked in the 24 weeks ending the 17th instant was 6,838, as against 6,358 in the corresponding period of 1892, 15,479 in the corresponding period of 1891, and 10,373 in the corresponding period of 1890. There has, therefore, been an increase of about 8 per cent. this year as compared with last year; but it is still about 33 per cent. below 1890, and about 55 per cent. below 1891.
§ MR. FELLOWES (Hunts, Ramsey)Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Government Bill on this subject will be introduced?
§ MR. H. GARDNERI am not in a position to make any statement on that subject.