§ Mr. CHARLES NICHOLSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he will state the grounds upon which the veterinary surgeon based his decision that the pig that died at Sprotborough had died of swine fever; and whether any opportunity will be given to appeal against the decision of that office; and (2) whether his attention has been drawn to an alleged outbreak of swine fever at Sprotborough on the farm occupied by William Dodson, which outbreak is alleged to have occurred on the 14th February; and whether, in view of the fact that no further case has occurred since the alleged outbreak, he will give instructions that the restrictions placed on Mr. Dodson should be at once removed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)The local veterinary inspector made a post-mortem examination of the pig, and was satisfied that it was affected with swine fever. His report to the Board contained a description of the nature and position of the lesions present, and his opinion was accepted after consideration of that report by the veterinary officers of the Board. On the existence of the disease being declared Mr. Dodson undertook to refrain from further breeding and to feed off his swine for slaughter as quickly as possible. So long as any pigs remain on the infected place restrictions must be maintained in order to prevent the spread of the disease, and the Board would not be justified in modifying them.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTI should like to ask whether even the chief veterinary officer of the Board does not admit that the latency of this disease last no longer than three months?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. CHARLES NICHOLSONIs there no appeal?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThere is no appeal.