§ 6. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has yet obtained an undertaking from the Argentine Government that, in the event of no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurring in Great Britain for three months prior to the 29th June, no embargo shall be placed upon British live stock purchased for exportation to Argentina at the Royal Agricultural Society's show at Shrewsbury; and, if not, whether, in view of the feeling of British agriculturists on this matter and the impossibility of justifying a six months' embargo in such cases, he will, with the assistance of the Foreign Office, seek without delay to obtain such an undertaking?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)My right hon. Friend has nothing to add at present to the answer which he gave to a similar question addressed to him by the hon. Gentleman on the 9th March last.
§ Mr. BATHURSTDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that unless something is settled at once it will render impossible any trade between the Argentine and this country on the occasion of the Royal Show at Shrewsbury?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISMy right hon. Friend is fully apprised of the importance of this matter, and is doing all he can to bring about a satisfactory arrangement.
§ 7. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in order to discourage the imposition by other countries of a six months' embargo upon British live stock after the most recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, and to demonstrate British bona fides in this matter, he will forthwith arrange with the Department of Agriculture in Ireland that the policy as between Great Britain and Ireland of imposing such prolonged embargo shall be at once abandoned, and the period thereof, in view of the admitted fact that the incubation of the disease docs not exceed ten days, be reduced to two months, and that such revision of departmental policy shall be notified for the information of other countries?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThe policy as between Great Britain and Ireland of imposing an embargo on live stock for six months from the date of the most recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease cannot be abandoned because it docs not exist. The period during which restrictions are maintained varies according to the circumstances, but if the hon. Gentleman will look back over the records of recent years ho will find nothing at all inconsistent with the contention that the six months' embargo imposed by certain foreign countries is unnecessarily long. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to admit that the incubation of foot-and-mouth disease never exceeds ten days.
§ Mr. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish Department, at any rate, imposed a six months' embargo upon our stock after the last outbreak in this country?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISI understood the question had, reference to the care of the English Department.