§ 7. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that Messrs. Twort and Ingram, as the result of research work at the Brown Institution, have discovered a diagnostic vaccine which is specific for Johne's disease in cattle, sheep, and goats, and will enable any owner of such stock to eradicate the disease from his herd or flock and to prevent its reintroduction by newly-bought animals; and whether, in view of the fact that this increasingly prevalent and fatal disease is thus demonstrable to a stockowner in its earliest stages and that, the carcases of effected animals being saleable, no compensation need be provided, he will consider the desirability of making compulsory the slaughter of such animals, and thus effectively stamp out the disease throughout the country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)I have received a pamphlet descriptive of the vaccine to which the hon. Member refers, but I do not think that sufficient evidence has as yet been adduced to justify the claims made with respect to it. The pathology and epizootiology of Johne's disease are being fully investigated on behalf of the Board, and I understand that the first report on the subject will be published shortly. In these circumstances it would be premature for me to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member in the concluding part of his question.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman see, before conducting independent investigations, that Messrs. Twort and Ingram are consulted as to the very valuable suggestion they have made?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI shall be only too glad to obtain any information from any direction, but I am told that the evidence adduced in support does not justify it.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTHave those gentlemen been asked to prove their case before the Board so that it can be judged on its merits?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know that they have been asked to prove their case before me, but we have evidence without asking them to come before us as a court of appeal.
§ 8. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether any application has been made through the Board to the Development Commissioners on behalf of the Brown Institution for a grant in aid of the research work of Messrs. Twort and Ingram in connection with Johne's disease in cattle and sheep; and whether, in view of their discovery of a reliable diagnostic vaccine for this fatal disease, and their inability, through lack of financial resources, to conduct an extended field experiment with a view to its further elucidation, such an application has received or will receive the approval of the Board?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAn application for a grant from the Development Fund in aid of research work in connection with Johne's disease was made by the superintendent of the Brown Institution last year, but the Commissioners were unable to recommend that it should be complied with. As the hon. Member is aware, a grant for research work in connection with the disease in question has been made to the Royal Veterinary College.