§ MR. HERMON-HODGE (Oxfordshire, Henley)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can inform the House of the result of his inquiries as to the importation into this country of horses suffering from infectious diseases; and whether any steps are to be taken to check the spread of disease by horses which are imported into this country.
§ MR. HANBURYI am glad to inform my hon. friend that the inquiries made by our own Inspectors at the Port of London, and by the local authorities at various other large ports of Great Britain, have shown that practically no cases of influenza have been discovered among imported horses since the year 1900.
§ MR. HERMON-HODGEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the arrangements for the protection of horse-breeders in this country against the importation of disease are of a permanent character?
§ MR. HANBURYIn view of there being so very few cases that the local authorities have in some cases ceased inspection, I am afraid I cannot undertake, on behalf of the Board of Agriculture, to incur expenditure at all the ports for this purpose.