§ Viscount HELMSLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can see his way to reduce the size of the scheduled area in the North Riding of Yorkshire, owing to the fact that all the affected animals have been slaughtered?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI regret to say that it is not possible to reduce the area as desired by the Noble Lord in view of the fact that since I came into the House a telegram has been received at the Board 1943 reporting a further outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease to-day. One stirk is affected in a field adjoining North Close Farm, where the first outbreak occurred.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman, having regard to the very serious inconvenience caused to farmers and residents in the neighbourhool by the recent prohibition, endeavour to diminish the area as soon as possible, if he considers it safe in the interests of the neighbouring farmers to do so?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI think the Noble Lord will see that, in view of the fresh outbreak, that is impossible.
§ Mr. STANIERIn view of the danger to the herds of this country, arising out of this fresh outbreak, can he tell us how far the outbreak goes outside the limit of the four infected farms?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe hon. Member is wrong in saying that there are four infected farms. There is only one infected farm, and there is a field adjoining this farm. The area is the usual fifteen miles, which has been found in other cases always effective.
§ Mr. STANIERDid I not understand the hon. Gentleman to say the other day that there were other farms, because two of the animals from this first farm had been sent to those farms.
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThat is so. I said that two beasts had gone off this farm, but when examined they were found perfectly healthy, and had been slaughtered, and there has been no other outbreak on that farm.