MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state how many outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have occurred among cattle in Great Britain, and the number of animals so affected, and what precautions are being taken to prevent infection: and whether the permission to import cattle into Ireland has been suspended.
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyThree outbreaks of foot and mouth disease have, I re ret to state, occurred in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth. The number of animals actually affected is thirty-six. The precautions prescribed by the Diseases of Animals Act and the Foot and Mouth Order of 1895 are being carried out by the local authorities acting in conjunction with the staff of lay and veterinary inspectors, which was dispatched to the spot immediately on the occurrence of the first outbreak. In addition we have 718 prohibited the movement of animals into or out of a scheduled district or along any highway therein, and have imposed special restrictions in the areas immediately surrounding the infected places. I understand that the Irish authorities have suspended the importation of cattle into Ireland for the time being. The situation is a very grave one, but if agriculturists generally will support the efforts we are making, we may yet be able to prevent the disastrous results which must ensue if the disease becomes epidemic throughout the country.