§ 9. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the ancient office of Verderer of His Majesty's Forest of Dean, held by four persons of repute in that locality who have been duly elected by the whole body of freeholders in the county of Gloucester, with the traditional object of adjudicating as between the Crown and His Majesty's subjects upon cases relating to vert and venison within the forest has in recent years become a sinecure, he will consider the desirability of allocating to them fresh duties similar to those entrusted to the Verderers of the New Forest and more in consonance with modern requirements and conditions?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not consider that there is any need at present for the allocation of fresh duties to the Verderers of the Forest of Dean. Such a change could not be carried out without legislation.
§ 10. Mr. MACMASTERasked whether a property has been purchased in Surrey for the purpose of establishing an experimental station for treating the diseases of 9 cattle; and whether the authorities have taken sufficiently into account the danger to establishing such a station in a thickly settled portion of the community where agricultural pursuits are the predominant interest?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, I may mention that the site is for the most part surrounded by open common. The main purpose of the station is the testing of cattle with a view to the issue of certificates that they are free from disease. It may safely be assumed that the large proportion of the animals brought to the station will be in perfect health, but the most stringent precautions will in every case be taken for the isolation of the animals and the prevention of the spreading of disease.
§ Mr. MACMASTERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the common adjoining this property the cattle of neighbouring farmers are grazed, and that by establishing this station there the whole of these cattle are put in jeopardy? And has the right hon. Gentleman verified the fact, as I have, that the land in this district is mainly agricultural land?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI know the site, and the statement of the hon. Member is partially, but only partially, correct. With regard to the risk run by surrounding farmers, I think it is very small. In fact, if you are to have an experimental station anywhere in England, I cannot imagine any place where less harm is likely to be done.
§ Mr. MACMASTERWould it not be infinitely preferable to establish a station of this character in a part of the country that is not wholly devoted to agriculture or thickly settled, but rather in some part that is thinly settled, where the danger would be less?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have already said that a large number of sites in the country would be available for an institution of this kind, but I can imagine none where the risk would be less.
§ Mr. MACMASTERWould the right hon. Gentleman defer action in this matter until he can confer with the people of the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, I am afraid I cannot.
§ 13. Captain GILMOURasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if the Irish Department have, on every occasion when recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in England, immediately closed their ports to all stock from Scotland; and, if this is the case, will he undertake to maintain the present restriction on the movement of all Irish stock to Scotland till Ireland can be certified to be clear of infection, in the interests of breeders of Scottish stock?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the hon. Member may be assured that I shall sanction no modification or withdrawal of the existing Regulations until I am satisfied that the conditions are such as to obviate any danger of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into either Scotland or England.
§ 14. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether it is possible, consistently with the public interest, to sanction the entering of fat cattle into the city of York, for immediate slaughter, from unscheduled areas, and thereby to avoid the depletion of the meat supply of the city, which must otherwise occur?
§ 15. Mr. ROWNTREEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can see his way to modify the Order affecting the movement of cattle in the York area so as to allow fat stock to come under licence to the city slaughter-houses from non-infected areas for immediate slaughter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANInvestigations as to the possible spread of disease in the East Riding scheduled area are being carried out as rapidly as possible, but at the moment I do not think it would be safe to relax the restrictions in the manner suggested. I will, however, keep the position of the city of York steadily in view. Perhaps my hon. Friend would repeat his question in two or three days' time.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the right hon. Gentleman give any clearer indication as to when the restrictions will be relaxed?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say at the present time. If the whole of our investigations during the next few days prove that there has been no spread of the disease in this area I hope we may 11 be able at once to relax the restrictions. But I should not like to give a definite promise to-day.
§ Mr. BUTCHERHas there been any further disease since the outbreak discovered on Friday?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYMay I ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland, if he has any information to give with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)All the information I have to give is that there has been no further case in Ireland.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Department of Agriculture in England, with a view to taking off the restrictions upon Irish exports of cattle? What is his opinion? Has he given the opinion of his Department to the English Department as to whether the condition of things in Ireland warrants the restrictions being kept up against that country?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI am in constant communication with the President of the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWith regard to the Waterford and Limerick ports, is the right hon. Gentleman able to announce when these ports will be open?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI hope I may be able to make a statement with regard to the ports of Waterford and Limerick on Wednesday.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTHas the right hon. Gentleman yet been able to trace the cause of the original outbreak at Swords?
§ Mr. RUSSELLNo, Sir.