§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can now say whether hay from Rotterdam has been the cause of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease amongst cattle in the district of Edinburgh; and, if so, whether he has taken any steps to prevent the importation of hay into the United Kingdom from foreign countries with the view to prevent the outbreak of such disease in the future.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY,) Somersetshire, S.There is evidence that hay imported from Rotterdam was the medium by which foot-and-mouth disease was recently introduced into Scotland, but our inquiries on the subject are not yet complete. The general question is receiving very careful consideration but no decision has yet been arrived at.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYIs there any foot-and-mouth disease among cattle at Rotterdam at present?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYSo far as I am aware, all over the Netherlands there is foot-and-mouth disease at the present time.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYHaving regard to this fact, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent hay or any other forage coming in from that country?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYAs I have already informed the House, the whole matter is receiving careful consideration.