§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether, in view of the measures always taken by the 1278 Board of Agriculture upon the occurrence of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease to isolate the area in which it occurs, the large trade in pedigree stock carried on between this country and Argentina, and the constant prevalence of the disease in many parts of the latter country, the Board would request the Foreign Office to approach the Argentina Government with the object of limiting its restrictions upon the importation of British stock to animals coming from the actual area which had been scheduled as infected by the Board, instead of extending them to the whole country to the detriment of such trade?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo, Sir. The Board do not see their way, under the circumstances which unfortunately exist at the present time, to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTHow can the principle advocated in this question be affected by any particular outbreak?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe present state of things affects the whole question.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has any fresh information to give to the House with regard to the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Middlesex and Sussex; whether any fresh outbreak has occurred; to what extent are animals upon or in the neighbourhood of the infected premises being slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease; and whether the origin of any of the recent outbreaks has yet been ascertained?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYIn the first place, may I correct a mistake in the report of what I said yesterday in answer to the right hon. Member for the Strand. What I said was that I was aware of the strong feeling on the opposite side of the House in favour of slaughtering out, but that there was also the same feeling on the Government side. There has been no further outbreak reported in the Middlesex area. The fullest inquiries have been made as to the possible source of origin of the disease in that area, and as to whether any foreign feeding-stuffs, hay, or straw, or other material likely to carry infection have been brought on to the premises, but no evidence has been obtained which suggests that the outbreak was due to such articles, and up to the present its cause remains unknown. As regards the outbreak in Sussex, the Board have decided to order the slaughter of the whole 1279 of the stock, which number approximately 2,300 sheep and lambs, eighty-six cattle, and four swine, remaining alive on the three farms on which disease has been found. These animals are now being valued, and slaughter will commence tomorrow. Owing to the number of animals involved the operation of slaughtering them must extend over several days. The veterinary examination of the stock in the neighbourhood is being continuously carried on by a staff of six veterinary inspectors. Six other inspectors are engaged in securing the observance of the restrictions imposed, and in making arrangements for the slaughter of the animals. Up to the present time the veterinary inquiry has not revealed any other centre of disease, but the disease has spread further amongst the stock on one of the affected farms. The origin of this outbreak is not yet known, but a searching investigation into the possible causes of the outbreak is being made. It cannot be ascertained that any foreign feeding stuffs have been brought on to any of the farms.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTI would like to ask the hon. Baronet whether it is not a fact that a very serious difficulty is being experienced on the Rye Marshes in effectively circumscribing the infected area, and in slaughtering the animals within it?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYI do not think that is so. I think all we are doing is being done very effectively at the present moment.