§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) whether any further cases of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred at or in the neighbourhood of Hounslow, in Middlesex; (2) whether the cause of the present outbreak has been traced; whether any oats, straw, raw milk, or other produce imported from infected countries have been found on the premises; and (3) whether any steps other than those adopted on the occasion of the two previous outbreaks are being taken in the case of the present outbreak to ascertain its origin.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)I have received information since I came down to the House that foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in a cow belonging to Mr. John Arnold, Oak Farm, Isleworth. The 1341 premises are within 300 yards of the original outbreak. There are in all nine cows and one goat on Oak Farm. The Board have directed the slaughter of all these animals. The answer to the rest of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTDoes the hon. Baronet realise that unless the cause of these frequent outbreaks can be ascertained by the Board the very valuable export trade in pedigree cattle will be lost to this country?