§ MR. COOPERI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somersetshire, as 1263 representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will give the number of cattle landed at Deptford and Birkenhead cattle markets for immediate slaughter, for the weeks ending 18th and 25th November; whether these cattle were imported from Canada or the United States; whether, as cattle are allowed to be imported from the States of the United States which have no cattle disease, he will allow the importation of cattle for immediate slaughter from European countries officially declared free from cattle disease; and, if not, will he state his reason.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe number of cattle landed at Deptford, for the weeks ending 18th and 25th November, from the United States ports was 2,227 and 2,028, and from Canadian ports, 2,939 and 1,256, respectively. The number landed at Birkenhead during the same periods from the United States ports was 1,225 and 3,264, and from Canadian ports 1,169 and 1,236. The Board's action in maintaining the prohibition of importation of animals from Europe is based on the considerations indicated in Section 25 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, under which questions other than that of the sanitary conditions of animals must be taken into account.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYBecause in America the States are under one Central Government. In Europe they are under separate Governments.
§ MR. COOPERWhy not allow importation from the Argentine?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYFor the very good reason we are not satisfied that the precautions taken there are adequate.