§ MR. J. ROUND (Essex, Harwich)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can see his way to relax the existing restrictions in the County of Essex, which were imposed by the Board in consequence of outbreaks of swine fever last year?
* MR. LONGI am happy to say that a considerable improvement in the position as regards swine fever in the North-East of Essex has taken place, and although it can hardly be hoped that the disease has been entirely extinguished, I think that the time has come when some modification of the existing regulations can safely be allowed. An Order has therefore been issued, withdrawing the severe restrictions of the Infected Areas Order, as from the 17th inst., and substituting the milder precautions of the Suspected Zones Order, a Measure which will give substantial relief to owners of pigs in the district.