§ Mr. JESSE COLLINGS (Birmingham, Bordesley)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that when he was at the International Dairy Congress at the Hague the wide prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in Holland was an admitted fact; if so, whether he inquired what became of the milk from the infected dairies, and can he state the result of his inquiries; and whether he is aware of the statement made at a recent meeting of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture by Mr. J. Spier to the effect that he, Mr. Spier, when in Holland on the same occasion, ascertained that 300 farms were declared as infected centres.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYOn one farm I visited I was informed that the milk from affected cows was sterilised before sale. The reply to the other inquiries of the right hon. Member is in the affirmative.
§ MR. JESSE COLLINGSAre any steps being taken to prevent the importation of produce from that infected area into this country—produce such as meat, butter, and cheese?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI would remind the right hon. Gentleman, who was at one time associated with the Local Government Board, that that is a Question which should be addressed to that Department.
§ Mr. JESSE COLLINGSThen may I put it to the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Local Government Board?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI must ask for notice.