§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can say whether the sale of live stock has been stopped in the markets at Edinburgh owing to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the district; and, if so, whether having regard to the fact that this will be a serious loss to the cattle trade, he will take immediate steps to see that the sales be allowed to continue.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. We are aware that the closing of the markets entails loss upon all concerned, but it was imperative that every possible means should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease, and at the moment it would not be safe further to modify our orders on the 445 subject. The outlook is however promising, and the restrictions will gradually be withdrawn so soon as we can prudently do so.