HC Deb 29 July 1912 vol 41 cc1600-3
3. Mr. CRUMLEY

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he was aware that thirty-five cattle, the property of Martin Cassey, were in a field at Carlisle from 28th June; that two Board inspectors visited the cattle daily, and, on the 20th July, these inspectors pronounced one of these cattle to be suffering from foot-and-mouth disease; that Inspector Barry was called in to inspect the cattle, and that he certified these cattle to be free from foot-and-mouth disease; and whether, under these circumstances, the Department would compensate Martin Cassey for his loss?

Mr. MONTAGU (for the President of the Board of Agriculture)

My right hon. Friend is aware of the circumstances of Mr. Cassey's case, and much regrets the loss and inconvenience which he, in common with so many stock owners, has suffered by reason of the restrictions on movement imposed to prevent the spread, of foot-and-mouth disease. But my right hon. Friend has no power to compensate him out of public funds.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Were the inspectors who condemned these beasts only market inspectors and not veterinary surgeons, and is it generally the case throughout England that the market inspectors who are visiting these farms and condemning cattle are men who know nothing at all about the disease?

Mr. MONTAGU

I am not able to give the hon. Member an answer to his question, but I have to repeat that my right hon. Friend has no power of paying compensation out of public funds, which is only given when animals are destroyed.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Were the two inspectors who condemned these beasts for foot-and-mouth distemper men who were not veterinary surgeons, as should be the case with the men sent to inspect these animals, and were they not men who knew nothing about the disease?

Mr. MONTAGU

That is a question which I am not able to answer, but I will communicate the point which the hon. Member raises to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. KILBRIDE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that most of these inspectors are market inspectors employed by the local authority, and that in several instances they are small tradesmen who know nothing whatever about cattle?

Mr. MONTAGU

I am not aware of that. I will bring the hon. Member's allegations to the notice of my right hon. Friend.

4. Sir JOHN SPEAR

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will consider the desirability of directing the Research Committee it was proposed to send abroad to investigate the origin and cause of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle to proceed to deal with the disease in this country, now that unfortunately we have it amongst our herds; whether he will consider the probability of such a step being more likely to discover a practical preventative and remedy, suitable and effec- tive, having regard to the climate and conditions in this country, than would be likely to accrue from investigations conducted abroad; and would not the investigation be conducted in this country at much less expense?

Mr. MONTAGU

My right hon. Friend adheres to his intention of sending a Committee of Inquiry to India as soon as possible to conduct a scientific investigation into the origin and causes of foot-and-mouth disease. In this country the disease is fortunately only epidemic, and as soon as an outbreak occurs the energies of the Board are directed to stamping it out as completely and quickly as possible. The opportunities of studying the disease here are therefore not sufficient for the thorough investigation which is proposed. The question of providing an experimental station has been considered, and, if the investigation could by that means be safely carried out in this country it would doubtless be less expensive; but experience has shown that there must always exist some risk of the spread of infection from the experimental station, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to incur the danger of such a calamity for the sake of a comparatively small pecuniary saving.

Mr. BATHURST

Is it proposed to defer sending this Committee of Inquiry out to India until the chief veterinary officer of the Board is ready to accompany it?

Mr. MONTAGU

As I told my hon. Friend the other day certain members of the Committee are going to India to begin the work in the autumn, whether the chief inspector is there or not.

7. Mr. C. BATHURST

asked whether any fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred during the last three days; how many outbreaks have now occurred in Great Britain since the recrudescence of the disease; and what are now the prospects of successfully stamping it out?

Mr. MONTAGU

Two further outbreaks of disease occurred on Friday in the Cheshire area in the immediate vicinity of the farm at which it was discovered on Thursday last; two, on adjoining farms, at Chollerton, in the Northumberland area, on Saturday last; and one yesterday in the Somerset area, close to the farm on which the disease originally broke out. The total number of outbreaks is now fifty-six. As regards the outlook, the characteristics of the disease are such, as the hon. Member is aware, as to make prophecy more than usually difficult, but the measures which the Board have adopted have so often proved efficacious in the past, and all concerned are working so well, that there is no reason at present to despair of the result. The essential thing is that any suspicion of the existence of disease should be reported immediately to the police by the persons in charge of stock.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is it not the fact that the stamping-out process has never taken place in the case of such a serious outbreak as this has turned out to be?

Mr. MONTAGU

I cannot answer that question, but I will tell my right hon. Friend what the hon. Member says.

Mr. STANIER

Can the hon. Gentleman say anything as to the origin of this outbreak?

Mr. MONTAGU

I am afraid that I can give no information further than that already given.

8. Mr. C. BATHURST

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the risk of foot-and-mouth disease being conveyed from one farm to another by hares and rats, as mechanical carriers, he has considered, or will consider, the desirability of the organised destruction of such animals when known to be plentiful in areas scheduled as infected?

Mr. MONTAGU

The possibility of the conveyance of infection by hares and rats is kept steadily in view, and in some instances in which disease has broken out rat-catchers have been employed. But the organised destruction of these animals throughout a scheduled area would be attended with considerable difficulty, and it is probable that more harm than good would result by reason of the fact that many of them would be driven to outlying places to which they would not ordinarily resort. The assembly and movement of persons for the purpose would also be a source of danger.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that hares are particularly prevalent in the area where the disease now exists in Somerset?

Mr. MONTAGU

I am sure my right hon. Friend will be very pleased to receive any information on such a subject.