§ Mr. HAMILTON BENNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will explain why the embargo against Argentine cattle has not been removed when the country has been declared free from disease for two years, while cattle from the United States are admitted for slaughter although there have been outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States quite recently?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe law requires us to consider separately the circumstances of each country in deciding whether or not the importation of animals should be probihited. The case of Argentine differs materially from that of the United, States, especially with regard to the duration and distribution of infection in the past.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTMay I ask if it is not the fact, as suggested in this question, that there have been outbreaks of foot-and-mouth diseáse in the United States quite recently?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThere was a serious outbreak a year and a half or two years ago, as the hon. Member knows.