§ MR. STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the present Swine Fever (Movement) Orders, whereby a licence is required to be obtained for the transmission of fat pigs for slaughter, are causing not only inconvenience but also loss to farmers in Somerset; and whether he will withdraw these Orders.
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLAS (for Mr. LONG)My right hon. friend asks me to say that he is well aware of and much regrets the inconvenience and even loss which is occasioned by the Order to which the hon. Member refers; but inasmuch as no fewer than thirty-two outbreaks of swine fever occurred in the infected area during June, it became urgently necessary to take steps to prevent the conveyance of infection to other districts. The position, which has somewhat improved since the Order was made, will lie constantly kept in view, and the Order revoked at the earliest possible moment consistently with safety.