HC Deb 17 November 1908 vol 196 cc1050-1
MR. ELLIS DAVIES (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to the result of recent experiments carried on at the farm attached to the University College of Aberystwyth, when it was found, by the application of the tuberculin test, that 24 per cent. of the milch cows on the dairy farm were suffering from tuberculosis and were disposed of at a serious loss; whether the Board has reason to suppose that tuberculosis exists to the same degree in the country generally; and whether, with a view to stamping out the disease, the Government will pay to the owners the value of cows destroyed as being affected with tuberculosis in any form.

THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY, Somerset, S.)

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. Such evidence as is available goes to show that a very considerable proportion of animals in dairy herds might be expected to react to the tuberculin test, and a percentage of reaction such as that quoted would probably not to be found to be unusual. The Board as at present advised would not be prepared to undertake operations against tuberculosis in animals on the lines suggested.

CAPTAIN CRAIG

Why do the Government take less interest in tuberculosis in England than in Ireland?

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

I am not aware that they do.

MR. LUPTON

Have not these tuberculin tests been proved to be utterly useless?

[No Answer was returned.]

CAPTAIN CRAIG

Why are more stringent regulations in extended to England?

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY

Ireland is not my Department.