§ 11. Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that no trace of foot-and-mouth distemper has been discovered amongst 792 over half a million of Irish livestock imported into Great Britain, and the whole of Ireland has been declared free from disease, he will now consider the expediency of removing the quarantine regulations?
§ 12. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has decided to admit store cattle into Great Britain from Minister and Con-naught or other parts of Ireland without any restrictions; and, if any restrictions are maintained, what is the nature and extent of such restrictions?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am unable to add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Dublin (St. Patrick's) and Kildare on Tuesday last, and I am sending the hon. Gentlemen copies of the Animals (Landing from Ireland) Consolidation and Amendment Order which was issued on the 21st November.
§ Mr. FIELDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that great complaints are being received respecting the delay in shipments of livestock from Dublin and Belfast, and will he take measures to remove the congestion on this side?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have received some complaints this morning on the subject to which the hon. Member refers, and I am looking into the case.
§ Mr. KILBRIDECan the right hon. Gentleman see his way, when issuing the Order, to allow fat cattle to go through the slaughter-houses in the ordinary way?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid I cannot at present allow fat cattle to pass through the slaughter-house in the ordinary way, but I hope the time will soon arrive when that will be possible.
§ 88. Mr. LARDNERasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what restrictions are at present existing against the export of hay and straw from Ireland to England, and vice rersâ; will he state how long these restrictions have been in operation and when he, on behalf of the Irish Department, intends to remove the restrictions against the importation of British fodder; and whether, having regard to the present condition of things in Ireland, his Department thinks there is any necessity for continuing the restrictions against the export of Irish fodder to Great Britain?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The landing in Great Britain of hay and straw brought from Ireland for use as fodder or litter for animals is prohibited since the 8th July last by Order of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries; and by an Order of this Department, which came into operation on the 1st July last, there is a similar prohibition against the landing in Ireland of hay and straw from Great Britain. The Department are in communication with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to relaxation of these Orders.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEDid not the English Department on 1st October express their willingness to consider the question of the importation of Irish hay under certain restrictions provided the Irish Department would take this action, and has there not been great delay on the part of the Irish Department in taking such action?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThere has been correspondence going on since October on the subject and a draft Order has been sent by the Irish Department to the Board of Agriculture in England for their concurrence.
§ Sir J. LONSDALECan the right hon. Gentleman give us any assurance that this question, which is a very important one, is receiving his consideration now, and is there any probability of the prohibition being relaxed
§ Mr. RUSSELLI quite agree that it is of importance. I have just stated that a draft Order has been sent to the Board of Agriculture in England for their concurrence.