§ 34. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has received a joint request from the county councils of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire, after prolonged negotiations between such councils, to permit their counties to be treated as a single area for the purposes of swine fever administration; and, if so, whether he proposes to accede to such request?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Swine fever has been so much more prevalent recently in Gloucestershire than in either Worcestershire or Warwickshire that, in the opinion of the Board, the present is not an opportune time for making the arrangement proposed.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the farmers on the borders of the three counties are very anxious that this should be carried out, in order to facilitate their marketing arrangements? 958 Mr. RUNCIMAN: Yes, I am aware; but there are serious local difficulties which, I am afraid, owing to the prevalence of disease in Gloucestershire at the present time, would mean that they would be unequally yoked with the other counties.