§ *SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (Wigtownshire)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention 1626 has been directed to a report recently submitted by Mr. Alexander Pottie, V.S., Paisley, to the directors of the Renfrew Agricultural Association, on a disease affecting 70 per cent. of the sheep imported from America; whether the Inspector of the Board of Agriculture has confirmed or disproved the accuracy of that report; whether the disease has been ascertained to be parasitic or hereditary, or both; and whether any precautions are in contemplation or operation for the protection of the home stock?
§ *MR. HERBERT GARDNERI have received a copy of the report to which the hon. Baronet refers, and have been in communication with the Renfrewshire Agricultural Society respecting it. Specimens of the diseased parts of the sheep in question are now under examination by my veterinary officers, and so soon as I receive their report I shall be in a position to give the hon. Baronet the further information he desires, and to determine whether any further action on my part is requisite.
§ *SIR H. MAXWELLHave reports been received from any other district on the same subject?
§ *MR. GARDNERNo, Sir; not that I am aware of.
§ *MR. C. B. RENSHAW (Renfrew, W.)asked the right hon. Gentleman if he was aware that there had actually been a case in which these American ewes had been bred from, which was followed with disastrous results; whether that case had been reported; and whether the right hon. Gentleman, having regard to that fact, would communicate the result of the inquiry he was now making at the earliest possible moment.
§ *MR. GARDNERI shall be glad to communicate the result at the earliest possible moment. I have no information such as the hon. Gentleman suggests.