HC Deb 08 June 1910 vol 17 c823
Mr. M'ARTHUR

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, seeing that no case of cattle disease in Argentina had been reported since January, 1909, and that the Argentine Government officially declared that country to be free from the said disease on 25th August, 1909, he would specifically state the grounds upon which the Board justify the continued exclusion of Argentine cattle for slaughter on landing in the United Kingdom?

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

In view of the past history of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina and of the fact that adjacent countries were known to be infected the Board felt that they must proceed in this matter with the greatest caution. Their action has, I think, been fully justified, for the disease has recently made its appearance in the Provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios, and in the territory of Chaco and the zone north of Santa Fé. In these circumstances the withdrawal of the existing prohibition is out of the question. It would be inconsistent with the statutory obligations of the Board in the matter.

Mr. M'ARTHUR

I wish to ask the hon. Baronet whether he will have any abjection to communicate to the House the exact terms of the despatches received by the Foreign Office from Buenos Ayres regarding the alleged outbreak of cattle disease in Argentina?

Sir E. STRACHEY

I think my hon. Friend must see that that is a question I must have notice of.

Mr. BOWERMAN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not possible to do the same in this case as in the case of North America, where a cordon was put round the affected district; and to allow cattle to come from any district which is unaffected by the disease?

Sir E. STRACHEY

I do not think it is possible to do so.