§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what progress has been made by the Departmental Committee on epizootic abortion in cattle; whether any interim Report will be issued; and whether any systematic inquiries have been made to ascertain the 1029 prevalence of the disease at the present time and during, say, the past ten years.
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Sir EDWARD STBACHEY,) Somersetshire, S.The Committee have obtained the use of suitable laboratory accommodation in the neighbourhood of London, where scientific experiments are being carried out with the object of determining whether epizootic abortion is contagious, and, if so, the nature of the contagion, and the manner in which the disease spreads. It is not proposed to issue an interim Report. No systematic inquiries as to the prevalence of the disease have yet been made, but there is no doubt that it is the cause of very considerable loss to stockowners, and that, outbreaks are of frequent occurrence.