HC Deb 13 July 1910 vol 19 cc351-3
Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the board has information showing that there is a considerable increase in the number of hides of cattle damaged by the larvæ of the ox warble fly in Great Britain; whether, in the opinion of the Board, the frequently expressed estimate of butchers and tanners that such damage amounts to £4,000,000 a year is justified by the facts; and whether the Board proposes to take any steps other than the issue of a leaflet to check the further increase of this pest amongst British herds of cattle?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)

The Board have no information that the warble fly has become more prevalent, and doubt the loss caused is anything like the amount suggested. The Board would be glad to consider proposals on the subject which would seem to be of advantage.

Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

asked whether the Board's attention has been drawn to the experiments which have been conducted by the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for the last six years at their experimental station at Ballyhaise, county Cavan, and elsewhere, in reference to the life history of the ox warble fly; whether, in the opinion of the Board, the results of such experiments indicate that the hitherto generally accepted theories as to the mode of puncture of a warbled hide and as to the best method of its prevention are erroneous; whether the leaflet on the subject published by the Board in May, 1903, has been since revised; and, if not, whether, in the light of more recent investigations, the Board will issue a fresh leaflet on this subject at an early date?

Sir E. STRACHEY

The Board are aware of the experiments to which the hon. Member refers. Their veterinary advisers consider the generally accepted theory as to the mode of infection is probably correct, but they are endeavouring to obtain further experimental evidence on the subject. The revised leaflet on the subject which the Board issued in 1903 was again revised in 1905. No further alteration could with advantage be made at the present time.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Does the revised leaflet to which the hon. Baronet referred, issued in 1905, represent the results of modern investigations on this subject?

Sir E. STRACHEY

As far as they have gone, certainly.