§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in pursuance of the publicly announced intention of the late President of the Board, he proposes to appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in various parts of the country and the best means of checking its spread?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIn view of the prevailing anxiety on the subject, will the inquiry be accelerated?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am losing no time in dealing with the matter, and I cannot accelerate it more than I am doing now.
§ Sir JOHN SPEARasked if the right hon. Gentleman has any information as to 863 the origin of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Somersetshire, and as to how infection was conveyed into the county?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCareful inquiries have been made, but it has not been possible to trace the outbreak to its origin.