§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board of Agriculture has received a, Resolution from the British Dairy Farmers' Association asking the Government to take every possible precaution to prevent the introduction of rinderpest into this country, having regard to its ravages in South Africa and the dangerous ease with which it can be carried thence to Europe; and, whether vigilant preventive action may be relied upon?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyI have not yet received the Resolution from the British Dairy Farmers' Association asking the Government to take every possible precaution to prevent the introduction of rinderpest into this country; but, as will be seen from the reply which I made to the hon. Member for Derry on Thursday last, the subject has received very full consideration at our hands. As the hon. Member is aware, no live cattle are imported from South Africa into this country; and, for the reasons given in my previous reply, we think there is practically no risk of the introduction of cattle plague thence by any indirect means—a view which is fully confirmed by the experience of the past 30 years. The hon. Member may rely upon my keeping the subject constantly in view and upon immediate action being taken should any necessity arise.