§ MR. H. D. GREENEI bog to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture 933 whether his attention has been directed to the provision afforded by railway companies for the maintenance and transport of dogs consigned by them; and whether the Board of Agriculture or the Board of Trade have any, and what, power to improve the accommodation supplied by railway companies for the conveyance of dogs, and to secure the proper cleansing and disinfection of boxes and lockers used by railway companies; and if not, whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation with that object, or effect it by amendments of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyI have been in communication both with the Board of Trade and the Railway Companies' Association on this subject, and I am informed that the use of boxes and lockers such as those to which my hon. and learned friend refers is gradually being discontinued, and that the practice generally adopted is to convey dogs in luggage vans where accommodation is specially set apart for them, the vans being cleansed after use. I doubt whether legislation on this subject, either by Act of Parliament or by any Order which it is in my power or that of the Board of Trade to issue, is feasible or practicable, but I shall be very glad to consider any suggestions which may be made to me, and, if necessary, to endeavour to induce the railway companies to take further steps to remove any cause for complaint.