§ Sir WILLIAM COLLINSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he would at once issue an Order against the importation of biological products liable to propagate foot-and-mouth disease in this country, so as to prevent the spread of the disease here, in the manner in which recent outbreaks have been proved to have been initiated and extended in the United States?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYWe are in communication with the other Departments concerned in the matter.
§ Mr. HICKS BEACH (for Mr. Stanier)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can now state the number of animals slaughtered on the Northclose Farm, near Ripon; if these are the whole number which have been in contact with those affected with foot-and-mouth disease; and if there has been any further outbreak?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYTwenty-six cattle, ninety-four sheep, and three swine have been slaughtered at Northclose Farm. Three cows and three calves which had been in contact with the animals on the farm have been slaughtered on other premises, and found healthy. There has been no further outbreak.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODCan the hon. Baronet state on what scale compensation will be paid for these animals?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYFull compensation will be paid on the usual scale.
§ Lord BALCARRES (for Mr. Charles Bathurst)asked whether, in view of the gravity of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in an important cattle-breeding district at some distance from the coast, the Board will consider the advisability of placing an embargo upon all feeding stuffs and straw and other litter imported from countries in which the dis- 1742 ease has been known to exist during the last six months, pending the discovery by the Board of the source of the present outbreak?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYIn view of the enormous imports of feeding stuffs (88,000,000 cwt.) the Board cannot impose an embargo on them pending the discovery of the source of the disease. Straw and hay for bedding and feeding are now dealt with by the Foreign Hay and Straw Order.
§ Lord BALCARRES (for Mr. C. Bathurst)asked whether the eight animals at Northclose Farm, Kirkby Malzeard, originally found to be affected with foot-and-mouth disease had been fed on cattle cake or other food which had been imported from abroad; whether they had been bedded upon straw or other litter purchased from outside the district; whether in either case it has been ascertained from what source such food or litter had been derived; and whether, and to what extent, similar food or litter from the same source had been supplied to other cattle owners?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYLocal straw and litter only have been used on the infected place. A mixed consignment of feeding cake of various brands was delivered there on the 7th instant. Inquiries as to its origin and the destination of the remainder of the consignment are being made.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODCan the hon. Baronet say, in the absence of any further outbreak, when those concerned may expect the Regulations to be relaxed?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThey will be released at the earliest possible moment consistent with absolute safety.
§ Lord BALCARRES (for Mr. C. Bathurst)asked whether, until sufficient time has elapsed to gauge the gravity and extent of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Yorkshire, the Board will consider the advisability of closing any cattle market in which during the last few weeks any of the affected animals had been exposed, and all cattle markets within a radius of twenty miles from the farm where the outbreak has occurred?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNone of the affected animals have been exposed in a market, but, as a matter of precaution, all markets (fourteen in number) within fifteen miles radius of the infected place were closed on Thursday last.