HC Deb 19 December 1912 vol 45 cc1691-4
112. Mr. LUNDON

I beg to ask the President of the Department of Agriculture a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether, in view of the admitted clearness of Munster and Con-naught from any trace or signs of foot-and-mouth disease, he will withdraw the four days quarantine which has been imposed in the case of store cattle, as such a restriction is almost ruinous.

The PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runci-man)

I much regret the loss and inconvenience caused by the continuance of the existing restrictions upon the importation of Irish store cattle into Great Britain, t but, in view of the present circumstances, I do not think that I can safely adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. Large numbers of animals are now being consigned to British ports under the present regulations, and I would, moreover, point out that easier restrictions are applied to Con-naught, Munster, and some districts of the other provinces than are applied to the large districts now scheduled by the I Irish Department. The absence of unto-ward incidents should enable me to modify the restrictions early in the new year.

Mr. PATRICK WHITE

I wish to ask the Vice-President of the Department a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether he can state at what date fat animals from county Meath may be shipped to British ports; and, if not, when he will licence the removal of fat stock from that county to abattoirs, it either Dublin or Drogheda, to be slaughtered and exported as dead meat?

Mr. RUSSELL

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Yesterday, on the application of the hon. Member, I issued an Order allowing fat cattle to be brought from Meath to Dublin for the purpose of slaughter for the home market. He now asks I should allow them to be taken to Dublin for the purpose of being slaughtered for exportation. That is a wholly different question, and I must have time to consider it. I hope to-have a conference on Saturday with my officers with regard to the whole position. I shall let the hon. Member know as soon as possible.

Sir JOHN LONSDALE

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability of removing the county Armagh-from the scheduled area?

Mr. RUSSELL

I had rather wished the hon. Member had not asked me that question. I have received a long telegram from my officers in Armagh, which I have shown to two of the hon. Gentleman's colleagues, showing the county to be in a state of very great danger. We have five or six officers there examining cattle, and all I say is it is causing the greatest anxiety at present.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Is it a fact that there is a large number of fat cattle belonging to a gentleman who lives in Leitrim lying at Derry which were sent there for export-to Glasgow for slaughter, and will the right hon. Gentleman permit those cattle to be shipped, as they cannot get out of Derry owing to the restrictions on the port?

Mr. RUSSELL

It is quite impossible that the Order scheduling the district around Derry could be relaxed. A great deal of inconvenience has arisen from cattle dealers acting upon our statements in the House of Commons and not waiting until the Order is issued. The police will only respect an Order and not a statement in the House.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Will these cattle be allowed to be sent from Derry to Belfast or some other port where they can be shipped to their destination?

Mr. RUSSELL

My hon. Friend knows that for an area of five miles around Derry an Order prohibiting the movement of cattle exists. How long that will have to remain is another question, but I shall be glad to consider it on Saturday at the conference to which I have referred.

Sir J. LONSDALE

In view of the statement which the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture has made with regard to the county of Armagh, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has discovered a single case of foot-and-mouth disease within that county during the last few days?

Mr RUSSELL

Within the last few days the officers of the Department have been engaged in more than one part of the county of Armagh. They have reserved several cases at the present moment for further consideration, and the state of the health of the cattle in that area is one which is causing great anxiety to the Department. I have refrained from mentioning names because I do not wish to attach any odium to any part of the county. If the hon. Member will allow me, I will show him a telegram which I received at a late hour last night.

Sir J. LONSDALE

In view of the very serious suggestion which the right lion. Gentleman has made in regard to the county of Armagh, I wish to ask whether he has absolute proof of a single case of foot-and-mouth disease in the county of Armagh?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think the hon. Member has received a very fair answer, and it is no use pursuing the matter further to-day.

Sir J. LONSDALE

The right hon. Gentleman has made a suggestion with regard to the county which I have the honour to represent without any proof.

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member had not persisted in his questions, the right hon. Gentleman would not have made any statement.