§ 4. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is considering the value of the new cures for, and processes of inoculation against, foot-and-mouth disease discovered and being used with success in Holland, Germany, and elsewhere, and claiming to be more efficacious than any such remedies formerly employed in England, with a view to their recommendation in the event of the disease becoming so widespread, and the process of compensation so costly, as to necessitate the abandonment of the slaughtering-out policy?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The Board's veterinary officers are keeping themselves informed as to the cures and processes to which the hon. Member refers, but there is good reason to hope that the measures adopted by the Board for the 2636 extirpation of the disease will be effective, and that the contingency referred to in the latter part of the question will not arise.
§ 6. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that, although it was well known in Bath, Frome, and the surrounding districts on the morning of 23rd July that there was a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the neighbourhood of Shepton Mallet, in Somerset, the market was held as usual at Frome on 24th July, and, owing to the fear of impending restrictions, an exceptionally large number of cattle was exposed there for sale, including some from Westcombe, six miles away; and whether, in such circumstances, the police or the local authority have and should exercise the power of closing a market contiguous to a suspected outbreak prior to its official confirmation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe facts of the case to which the hon. Member refers are fully set out in the answer which I gave to the question of the hon. Member for North Dorset on Thursday last. As regards the latter part of the question, I may say that local authorities are already empowered, under Article 6 of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order of 1895, to prohibit the movement of any animal without waiting for the confirmation of the existence of disease, and this power is exercised in the case not only of suspected animals, but of all animals which may have been in contact therewith, whether at a market or otherwise.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs this not clearly a case in which such power ought to have been exercised?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir. I need hardly say that we always recommend most prompt action on the part of the local authorities.
§ 7. Mr. LYNCHasked (1) whether he can state what investigations have been instituted in order to discover the cause and the manner of spreading of the foot-and-mouth disease; (2) whether, in view of the importance of the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and the mystery surrounding the circumstances which favour it, he will promote exhaustive experiments on the part of the technical experts of his Department, and if necessary will invoke the aid of the most famous bacteriological laboratories in the country, so that the present opportunity may 2637 be availed of to the full to ascertain the etiology of this disease, and to provide means for its elimination?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer by referring him to the answer given on Monday last to the similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for the Tavistock Division.
§ Mr. LYNCHBesides taking advantage of the resources of his own Department, will the right hon. Gentleman avail himself of the whole of the technical ability of his country to stamp out this disease by finding out the cause of it as Pasteur did in the case of anthrax.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, we are endeavouring to use such scientific assistance as we can take advantage of, but we are not prepared to have a testing station for foot-and-mouth disease in this country.
§ 9. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether there have been any further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the last three days; how many outbreaks have now occurred in England since the reappearance of the disease; whether the cause of any of these outbreaks, other than those traceable to Ireland, has been ascertained or suspected by the Board; and whether the staff of the Board has proved to be sufficient for the work which these outbreaks have entailed?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA further outbreak was confirmed late on Thursday evening on premises at Chollerton, Northumberland, belonging to the owner of premises on which the disease had previously existed, but I am glad to say that since that date no fresh case of the disease has occurred. The total number of outbreaks is now sixty. The reply to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the negative. It has been necessary for the time being to augment the staff of the Board and Treasury authority for the purpose has been obtained.
Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWIs there now a member or a representative of the Board in all the districts where disease has occurred?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCertainly.
Mr. M. BARLOWWould that representative be able to allow farmers to remove their stock across the road?
§ 10. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether a deputation of Irish gentlemen interested in the cattle trade waited upon him one day last week and informed him that unless the embargo upon the importation into England of Irish cattle was removed there would be an immediate strike against the payment of all taxes and rent in Ireland; and, if so, whether he will say what reply he gave to the deputation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo such statement has been made at any deputation which I have received.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a story to this effect was prevalent all over Ireland last week? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]
§ 13. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in Ireland during the last five days, and in what locality?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)No fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in Ireland during the last five days, but two additional cases of the disease were confirmed on the 1st instant amongst cattle which had been under observation on a restricted farm at Swords, county Dublin. In accordance with the usual practice, all the animals on these lands, numbering 346 cattle and 580 sheep, are being slaughtered. No cases of the disease have occurred in Ireland outside the Swords district.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the 1st instant is not within the last five days?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe 1st instant was on the 1st. The distinction is that no fresh outbreaks have appeared in Ireland during the last five days, but on the farm mentioned this outbreak has occurred.
§ Mr. FIELDIs it a fact that outside the Swords district no outbreak has occurred in any part of Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes. I have already said that.