HC Deb 20 June 1906 vol 159 cc174-5
MR. TREVELYAN

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board has been called to the effect of the Sheep Dipping (North of England) Order, which requires that sheep which have been dipped on or shortly before July 31st shall be dipped a second time before they can be sent to market or out of the dipping area after August 31st, unless they shall have been kept isolated; whether he is aware that sheep cannot be kept isolated on the hills of Northumberland, because often there are no fences; whether he is further aware that to dip lambs twice, with only a short period between the dippings, is likely to cause them serious injury; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

The value of the dipping would be destroyed if sheep which have been dipped are not kept separate from undipped sheep, and I am afraid therefore that we cannot agree to any modification of the Order in this respect. The difficulty referred to is, however, one that can be met by the mutual co-operation of the flock-masters of the county. There is nothing in the Order which makes it necessary for lambs to be dipped twice within a dangerously short period.