§ 3. Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state when it is probable that the four days' detention rule for imported Irish livestock will be abandoned; and whether, if no outbreak occurs, he will allow a resumption of normal conditions of import and movement?
§ 6. Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of there having been no further outbreaks of cattle disease in Ireland since 7th October, he is now in a position to announce the removal of all restrictions on Irish cattle, except on those coming from the Mullingar district?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a detailed statement to-morrow in regard to future arrangements for the importation of Irish animals into Great Britain.
§ 4. Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that certain English masters of fox hounds have secretly imported Irish foxes, in contravention of the Order that no animals should be imported into England from Ireland without undergoing fourteen days' quarantine; whether he will inquire where those imported foxes were enlarged; whether any steps will be taken 1851 against those persons responsible for the importations; and whether he will endeavour to obtain the information if the masters of the Foxhounds Association were cognisant of those illegal proceedings?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISMy right hon. Friend has no information as to the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. The provisions of the Order do not apply to foxes.
§ Mr. FIELDWould the hon. Gentleman make inquiry as to whether foxhounds were imported within the period mentioned?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISMy right hon. Friend will be glad to receive information as to any possible source of infection, but I must again point out that foxes are not included in the Order.
§ Mr. JOYCEIf foxes are not within the category of the animals to which the Order applies, may I ask whether the attention of the President of the Board of Agriculture has been called to the fact that the regimental goat of the Welsh Fusiliers was put in quarantine for a number of days?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of the question.