HC Deb 16 November 1893 vol 18 cc1038-9
MR. DARLING (Deptford)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board have information to the effect that the cattle of Holland, Belgium, and Denmark are now free from foot-and-mouth disease; and. whether it is now the intention of the Board to permit the import of animals from those countries, or cither of them?

MR. H. GARDNER

I am informed that Holland was declared free from foot-and-mouth disease so recently as the 26th of October last, and that the last remaining infected places in Denmark were declared free about seven weeks ago. The most recent information received by us as to Belgium showed that the disease still existed in two provinces of that country. In these circumstances, in would be premature on my part to allow the importation of live animals from the countries named to be resumed, and, moreover, as the hon. Member is aware, the freedom of a country from disease at any particular moment is not the only factor which I have to take into account in determining whether such importation should be permitted. I may, perhaps, add that the circumstances attending the spread of the disease on the Continent and in the United Kingdom dining the past two years have conclusively shown the necessity of very great caution on my part in dealing with proprosals for the re-admission of live animals from European countries.

MR. DARLING

May I ask what other consideration the right hon. Gentleman refers to as having to be taken into account besides the freedom of a country from disease at any particular moment?

MR. H. GARDNER

I should have thought that the hon. Member, who takes so much interest in this subject, would have made himself acquainted with the Acts relating to it. Had he done so he would have known what are the circumstances referred to.

MR. DARLING

As there are many people more ignorant than I am about this subject, will the right hon. Gentle- man give the information for which I have asked in order that they may be enlightened?

MR. H. GARDNER

It is necessary that the Board, before permitting the importation of animals, should take into consideration, besides the freedom of a country from disease, the conditions under which the Sanitary Regulations relating to animals are carried out in that country, and the conditions of communication between that country and other places which may be infected.