MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the objections of farmers in North Wales to the double dipping of sheep enforced by the recent Sheep-scab Order have been considered; and whether he is in a position to make a statement with reference to any modifications which can be made in the said Order in response to the representations made by those concerned.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Board are prepared to alter the dates of dipping provided by the Sheep-dipping Order to meet, so far as it is possible, local convenience; but, in view of the prevalence of sheep-scab in North Wales, they are unable to relax the requirement for two dippings until a very considerable diminution in the amount of disease has been effected.