§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state when the Report of the Bovine Tuberculosis Commission will be issued; whether his attention has been called to the statement of Dr. Koch respecting the interim Report, as to the absence of evidence to prove that man can be infected by animal tuberculosis in any but the very slightest degree; and whether, in view of this pronouncement, the Government will support the Tuberculosis Compensation Bill.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Northamptonshire on the 9th ultimo†, I understand that the Royal Commission hope to issue a further interim Report towards the end of the present year, but that it is not possible to say at present when the final Report will be issued. My attention has been drawn to the statement of Dr. Koch referred to. I sympathise with the object of the Bill mentioned in the last part of the Question, but I am afraid I cannot give any promise with regard to it.