§ SIR THOMAS DEWARI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that vessels entering French ports from plague-infected ports are not allowed to load until the owners have had such vessels fumigated for the purpose of securing the destruction of any rats which may be on board; and having regard to the remarks contained in the last annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London, and the prevalence of plague in the Far East, will the question of adopting regulations similar to those in force in France be considered.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI am aware of the decree made by the French Government with regard to this matter. That decree was however, issued before the recent international conference at Paris took place. The provisions on this subject included in the convention made as the result of the conference are less stringent than those of the decree. The convention is now under the consideration of the Governments concerned. It has been the practice of my Department to recommend the destruction of rats on board vessels coming from plague-infected ports, when the vessels are empty, but it has not been thought necessary to make this compulsory.