§ Mr. STANIERasked whether the Board of Agriculture are collecting information and statistics which will show the amount of Johne's disease in this country; and 970 who is investigating this disease on behalf of the Board?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board's veterinary officers have been collecting information with regard to this disease for some years past, and their inquiries are still proceeding. The nature of the disease is also being investigated by the scientific staff of the Royal Veterinary College. There is at present no obligation on the part of owners of stock to report outbreaks of the disease, and no statistics of its prevalence are therefore available.
§ Mr. STANIERDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it is advisable that this should be a notifiable disease?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere has been no general request on the part of the agricultural community for the disease to be made notifiable, and until there is some stronger movement in favour of it I do not see my way to take the step.