§ MR. RIDSDALE (Brighton)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has considered the desirability of prohibiting the importation of peat-moss litter from Holland; and whether, if fine moss is used for feeding purposes, as the basis of molassine meal, this material also has been the subject of consideration.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board have very fully considered the advisability of prohibiting the importation of both the articles to which my hon. friend refers, and they are satisfied that there is no necessity for doing so.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he is aware that the weekly imports of peat-moss litter into Belfast from the Continent amount to seventy-five tons: if he has any official information showing that large shipments are at present on the way to this country; and whether, considering the prevalence of cattle disease on the Continent, he will take steps to prohibit such importation.
(Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) The Department have no information regarding the pending shipments referred to in this Question, but they are aware that there is a considerable import trade in foreign peat-moss litter into Belfast. The question of such imports has recently been carefully considered, and, as at present advised, the Department do not see that adequate grounds exist for subjecting the importation of litter made from peat-moss (the preparation of which takes place under conditions which appear to be very different from those applicable to hay and straw) to any restrictions under the Diseases of Animals Acts.