§ 55. Mr. STANIERasked which port the thirty-four sheep from Ireland were landed at in England which were found suffering from sheep-scab; is it known from what part of Ireland they came from; where were these sheep slaughtered; has the ship which brought them been disinfected; and had these sheep passed through any examination in Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAll the sheep in question were landed at Birkenhead, and were slaughtered there at the wharf. All vessels conveying animals from Ireland are required to be cleansed and disinfected. The enforcement of this requirement rests with the local authority. The Board have communicated to the Irish Department the names and addresses of the consignors of the sheep with a view to inquiry being made as to the parts of Ireland from which they came. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department.
§ Mr. STANIERWas any official notification left with the sheep, seeing they were diseased?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not quite sure as to a formal notification; I should have to have notice of that. We understood that these animals had passed an inspection in Ireland.