§ MR. ABEL SMITH (Hertfordshire, Hertford)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will be prepared to announce at an early date whether or not the Government is prepared to adopt the recommendations of the Select Committee on Tuberculosis as to compensation for carcases condemned as tuberculous.
§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)May I also ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the demand of the Butchers' Federation from every vendor of cattle for a warranty of immunity from a disease which cannot be accurately diagnosed prior to slaughter, and to the general feeling expressed by the agricultural community that any loss incurred by them in consequence thereof should be borne either in whole by the Exchequer or, as recommended 753 by the Select Committee on Tuberculosis of 1904, as to one-half, he will say definitely whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to entertain such a proposal, in order that the farmers may be in a position to know how to deal with this novel demand on the part of the butchers.
§ MR. BRIDGEMAN (Shropshire, Oswestry)May I also ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the decision of the National Federation of Meat Sellers not to buy cattle without guarantee from the farmers, and to the hardship which would be inflicted upon farmers by giving such guarantee; and if he will provide that part of the compensation for an animal condemned by the inspectors after slaughter as tuberculous shall be paid out of public funds.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaLegislation would be necessary to give effect to the suggestion made in these Questions, and I am not in a position to promise that such legislation will be proposed by the Government.