§ MR. COOPER (Southwark, Bermondsey)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board of Agriculture at present give immediate official information of outbreaks of contagious cattle disease in foreign countries, and in what 1240 form; and, if not, whether the Board of Agriculture will consider the advisability of approaching the Governments of foreign countries with the object of establishing some system of international notification of these diseases.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey). We receive either by letter or telegram reports of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease or cattle-plague from Consular officers in countries from which the importation of animals into Great Britain is not prohibited. Monthly Returns of disease are also sent us by consular officers, and we receive official Returns of disease from countries which issue them.