§ Mr. LUPTONasked the President of the Local Government Board if the late outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States of America was due to the use of vaccine lymph impregnated with the disease, which had been introduced from Japan and used on a vaccine farm for starting cultures of vaccine lymph; whether there is any means known to science of testing a given sample of vaccine lymph and ascertaining with certainty that it is free from the infection of foot-and-mouth disease; if no such means is known to science, if he will introduce legislation for the purpose of prohibiting the importation of foreign lymph into the United Kingdom, and also the sale of lymphs manufactured in England, until a scientific and conclusive test has been discovered which will ascertain with certainty that the product is free from the infection of foot-and-mouth disease; and, if such a scientific test has been discovered and is in use in the Government vaccine farm and in other vaccine farms in the United Kingdom, if he will describe that test?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)I am aware that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States of America has been attributed to the cause suggested in the question. The matter is receiving my consideration, and I am in communication with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in regard to it.
§ Mr. LUPTONMay I ask the hon. Member if, in pursuing the inquiry, he will inquire whether the recent outbreak of the disease in Edinburgh was due to vaccine lymph which was supplied?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISI will bring this point to the notice of my right hon. Friend.