§ MR. BRIGHT (Shropshire, Oswestry)To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will explain why sheep from areas infected with sheep-scab in Scotland are allowed to come into England without being under inspection, while sheep from infected areas in England and Wales cannot be moved without such inspection.
(Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) The formulation of arrangements for the control of the movement of sheep from the northern counties of Scotland has been attended with considerable difficulty and has been the subject of somewhat prolonged negotiations with the local authorities concerned. An Order has, however, now been passed which prescribes the compulsory dipping of sheep in those counties between the 15th July and the 1st September next, and imposes restrictions on the movement of sheep out of the dipping area. The new Order will, I believe, afford adequate security against the spread of disease from the counties in question. I shall be happy to supply a copy to the hon. Member.