§ MR. STANIER (Shropshire Newport)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if there are any animals now on their way from Pennsylvania to Great Britain; and, if so, will they be watched or destroyed.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYFour vessels from Philadelphia and three from New York are known to have left America with cattle for this country. The landing of cattle from vessels arriving from Philadelphia and New York will be made subject to special orders which give ample powers to the Board to deal with the vessels themselves and their cargoes.
§ MR. STANIERI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will consider the desirability of scheduling the whole of the United States against the importation of live stock and also straw into Great Britain on account of the outbreak in Pennsylvania.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYOwing to the spread of disease to the State of New York, the States of New York and New Jersey have been added to the Schedule of prohibited countries, but there seems no present necessity on the information available to extend the restrictions. The position is, however, being very carefully watched, and the Board will not hesitate to take further action if necessity arises.
§ MR. STANIERCan the hon. Gentleman give us any further details as to the spread of this disease, and are precautions being taken?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI do not think I can add very much to what I have said, except to assure the hon. Gentleman that the Board are taking and will take every possible precaution. That, I think, is shown by the fact that they did not lose a moment on the outbreak occurring in New York in scheduling New York.