§ MR. HALPIN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to reports that American blight or mildew and black, currant mite were imported into England by plants from Ireland; whether he is aware that the disease was imported from England into Clare by the Department of 1289 Agriculture sending gooseberry and black currant plants that were full of mildew or blight and mite to farmers who planted fruit trees under the Department scheme, as farmers who received them can testify; and whether he will instruct the Department to have an export to examine small fruit plants before importing them into Ireland from English nurseries in future, and arrange that the same export shall examine apple trees, so as not to allow cancerated and stunted trees being imported into Clare like those sent there three years ago.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYSo far as the Board are aware there is no evidence which suggests that the diseases referred to in the hon. Member's Question were imported either into Ireland from England or into England from Ireland, but in any case the institution of precautionary measures against the introduction of disease into Ireland is a matter that would fall to be dealt with by the Irish Department of Agriculture.
§ MR. HALPINI am aware of cases in which it has been imported into Clare.