§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish 687 Government has directed its attention to the circumstance that the increase of tuberculosis in Ireland has followed on the increased use of low-class American bacon, believed by many people to be the flesh of tuberculous swine; whether, as there is no Government inspection of possibly tuberculous meat at the ports of entry, he will consider the advisability of issuing a circular to the various public health authorities in Ireland, calling their attention to the danger to health arising from the consumption of meat infected with the bacilli of tuberculosis and the necessity for vigilance of their inspectors in preventing unsound meat from being exposed for sale.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The entire question of the importation of food, which affects the United Kingdom generally, has been under the consideration of the Government, and my right hon. friend the President of the Local Government Board has introduced a Bill dealing with the matter. I refer to the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Bill, which is down for Second Reading on October 23rd.