§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, since it was stated in the last Report of his Intelligence Department that the Board possesses no power to take any action in connection with the bee disease, he will take the necessary steps to acquire by legislation powers similar to those conferred upon the Department of Agriculture in Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI understand the hon. Member to refer to the passage in the Report which concerns the Isle of Wight Bee Disease. The Bee Pest Prevention (Ireland) Act, 1908, does not 1188 confer any powers for dealing with outbreaks of that disease, and our information with regard to it is far from complete. I am, however, considering what steps it may be desirable or possible to take with regard to the control of bee diseases generally, and I propose during the recess to communicate with the leading authorities on the subject.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this disease has now spread to the North of Scotland, and that the Board of Agriculture have not made the slightest attempt to stop it.