§ 78. Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is now in a position to say when the restrictions on the importation of livestock from Ireland to Great Britain will be wholly removed?
§ 84. Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of there having been no further 2092 outbreaks of cattle disease in Ireland, except at Mullingar, 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?
§ Mr. FIELDBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask if he can give any information as to the present position of affairs in Dublin?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot give any full information, but I hear that a suspected case in Dublin has been confirmed by at least one of the inspectors over there. I am awaiting further information on the subject. In reply to the two questions on the Paper, I had hoped to be able to-day to sanction the issue of an Order reducing the period of detention prescribed in the case both of cattle and swine intended for slaughter from ninety-six hours, as at present, to twelve hours, subject to certain conditions as regards their removal from the landing place. During the last few days, however, two animals presenting suspicious appearances have been detained and slaughtered in Dublin, which are now the subject of veterinary investigations, and until those investigations are completed it would be premature for me to modify the existing restrictions in the manner I had contemplated. In the meantime both Departments are taking special precautions against the possibility of the shipment to and subsequent movement in this country of animals which may have been exposed to infection. The investigations will be brought to a conclusion with the least possible delay.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe two cases to which I have referred in the answer were both caught before they left Dublin.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANQuestions on that subject will have to be addressed to the Irish Office. I believe the Irish officials are pressing back all the animals. Meanwhile the shipment of animals from Dublin has been suspended.
§ Mr. FIELDWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to give 2093 further information with regard to the investigation pursued by these officials?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI hope that the investigation will be concluded to-day. I will certainly give the House the fullest information I have at question time to-morrow if a question is put to me.
§ 79. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether there is any objection, and, if so, what, to the removal of fat cattle from the slaughter wharf at Birkenhead for slaughter elsewhere after a detention of four days; and whether he will now consider the reasonableness of allowing fat cattle that have undergone the fullest form of veterinary examination both in Ireland and on landing to be removed for purposes of slaughter after a period of twelve hours?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCattle sent to the Birkenhead landing place for slaughter there are not in every case subjected to so rigid an inspection prior to shipment, and are not kept under such stringent conditions there as those which are consigned for detention and subsequent removal under the conditions prescribed by the Orders of the Board. I regret therefore that I do not see my way to sanction the arrangement suggested. I regret that for the reasons explained in the reply, which I have just given to the hon. Member for North Westmeath, I cannot as yet sanction the reduction of the period of detention prescribed for fat cattle.
§ 80. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the number of store cattle that passed through English ports and ultimately reached Scottish feeders; and, if the quantity is considerable, whether he will direct the attention of the authorities of Scotch ports now closed against Irish cattle to the desirability and convenience of all concerned, without incurring any additional risk, that they should open their ports for the reception of healthy Irish cattle?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANLicences have been issued for the removal of 726 store cattle from authorised landing places to farm premises in Scotland for detention there in conformity with the requirements of our Orders. I am in communication with the authorities at Scottish ports with a view to the provision of additional landing places. It is probable that the necessary 2094 arrangements will be made at an early date at Ayr, and, I hope, also at Greenock, and possibly Stranraer.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEIn all these places of landing in Scotland and in this country where the cattle are detained for twelve days, does the Board insist that they shall be detained upon pavement, stones, or concrete, so that consequently it is impossible to prevent their getting sore feet?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere are no animals detained for twelve days.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEFor four days.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe animals detained for four days are detained as far as possible in lairs that have been properly washed out. That does not necessarily mean that they have a concrete floor.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEDoes it not mean that they cannot be littered, so that the animals' feet must get sore?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo. If the hon. Gentleman suggests that the animals deteriorate in quality, either in the feet or elsewhere, that is not the fact.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that either store or fat cattle do not deteriorate by four days' quarantine, does he make the statement on information received from any practical man in the trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes; I have received that information from meat traders—for instance, at Manchester, as well as at other centres.
§ 81. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether cattle landed at the wharf for the reception of store cattle at Birkenhead can, after a detention of four days, be removed, if the owners so desire, to the wharf allotted for the landing of fat cattle and there slaughtered; and, if not, will he state for what reasons?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere is no objection to the movement of cattle for slaughter in the landing place, as suggested, if accommodation for the purpose is available, and instructions have been issued which will remove any doubt upon the point.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYWith regard to the cases reported in Dublin, will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions so that the cattle and sheep detained there may be allowed to be shipped to-night?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI ought to have notice of that question; it does not arise out of the answer I have given. I will give as full information to-morrow as I possibly can.
§ 82. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will give the names of the ports in Great Britain at which cattle can be landed from Ireland; the accommodation at each port for fat and store cattle, respectively; whether there is any and, if so, what system for allotting the space; whether he is aware that numerous complaints have been made about the existing system that it tends to favour large companies or capitalists by allowing them a monopoly of the space to the exclusion of smaller traders; whether he will try and devise some system whereby every applicant for space will get a proportionate share; and whether, when it is necessary to refuse an application for space to anyone, the claims of the individual so refused will have priority in future before the claims of those who were satisfied when his was refused?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA list of the ports at which Irish cattle can be landed in Great Britain is given in an Order issued on the 21st ultimo, a copy of which I shall be glad to send to the hon. Member. The port of Dundee was added on the 27th ultimo. The accommodation available for fat and store stock varies from time to time according to the demand for space, the Board's inspector on the spot being empowered to make the best arrangements possible for the reception of the cattle the shipment of which has been authorised by the Irish Department. A few complaints have been made as to preferential treatment of the large consignors, but in view of the fact that the arrangements for the shipment of cattle are entered into between the consignors and the shipping companies, without reference either to the Irish Department or the Board, it is not easy to see how those complaints can be remedied. I shall be glad, however, to communicate with the Irish Department on the subject.
§ 83. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, when removing the restriction on the moving of cattle, sheep, and pigs from Ireland owing to the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease, he will consider the advisability of affording facilities for the landing of cargoes at Barrow-in-Furness in future?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, I agree that Barrow-in-Furness would be a very suitable port for the reception of Irish cattle, and I am in communication with the Fur-ness Railway Company with a view to ascertaining whether arrangements can be made to provide a landing place which would satisfy the Board's requirements.
§ 85. Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has now considered the terms of the draft Order submitted by the Irish Department of Agriculture dealing with the importation and exportation of hay from England and Scotland to Ireland and vice versâ and whether he has approved the same, and is now in a position to announce that, subject to its terms, the movement of hay will be permitted?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe representations which have been made to me on this subject will be kept in view, but at present I do not think it would be prudent for me to relax the existing regulations.