§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in the light of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Human and Animal Tuberculosis, the Board would, as in some Continental countries, make it compulsory for all cattle whose milk was sold to the public to be examined periodically to ascertain their freedom from transferable tuberculosis as evidenced by emaciation or visibly tuberculous udders, without necessarily employing the sometimes misleading tuberculin test, and thus produce a national register of sound cattle the milk of which could be purchased with confidence by the public?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir E. Strachey)In view of the fact that there are over two million cows in milk in Great Britain, the proposal made by the hon. Member is one which might impose a heavy charge upon the local rates, and therefore requires very careful consideration.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs there a prospect under the proposed tuberculosis Order of throwing this charge on the Exchequer?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThat also means a very heavy charge on the taxes.