HC Deb 16 February 1914 vol 58 cc553-6
7. Mr. CRUMLEY

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, now that no further outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has occurred in Ireland for the past three weeks, if he will remove the restrictions against the removal of fat and store cattle from Ireland to the markets in Great Britain?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

On Thursday evening, the 12th, the veterinary inspector in charge found very suspicious lesions in certain swine which were about to be slaughtered in the landing place at Birkenhead. An examination on Friday morning satisfied him as to his diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease. Moreover, that same morning he found undoubted evidence of the disease in seven cattle forming part of a separate cargo. The swine had been landed from Waterford on Sunday, the 8th; the cattle from Newry on Tuesday, the 10th. Later that day disease was discovered in ten cattle forming part of a cargo landed from Dundalk on Tuesday, the 10th. The vessel in which these cattle were carried returned to Ireland, and on Thursday, the 12th, landed swine from Dundalk which showed lesions of the disease when examined alive on Friday evening. On Friday evening and Saturday morning disease was discovered in animals forming parts of four other shipments, namely, three arriving on the 10th from Belfast, Dublin, and Waterford, and one arriving on the 12th from Dublin. This cargo came on the same-vessel as that which arrived on the 10th. The existence of foot-and-mouth disease in these cargoes has been confirmed by the Board's assistant veterinary officer. Whether disease was actually carried from each of those five ports can only be finally determined after full inquiry in Ireland. In these circumstances I have had no alternative but to prohibit the landing in Great Britain of animals from Ireland for the present, and it may be well to state that under the most favourable circumstances there is no possibility of the trade being resumed for, at the very least, a fortnight from to-day. Much will depend on the success of the Irish Department in locating the centre or centres of disease, but even when this has been done an interval of time must be allowed to elapse, as a matter of precaution, before shipments of animals for slaughter at the port can be resumed. The earliest possible information will be given to the House when any modification of the Order can be made and due warning will be given to traders. In the meantime I can only express my profound regret at the unfortunate predicament which has arisen and assure hon. Members that it will be my endeavour to alleviate the position so far as it is in my power to do so consistently with safeguarding the interests of stock owners in this country. I need hardly, perhaps, add that every possible precaution is being taken to prevent the escape of the disease from the Birkenhead landing place.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Is it not a fact that after making careful inquiry throughout Ireland at the different ports where these animals were shipped and on the different farms from which the animals came no trace of the disease has been discovered?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I think that question ought to be addressed to the Vice-President of the Irish Department of the Board of Agriculture.

Mr. FIELD

May I ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will make a statement giving us any other information?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)

I propose to make any statement I have to make after Questions. I do not think it would toe right to intervene now.

Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

In view of the alarm which his statement will cause to British herd owners, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the inspection of the five ports of embarkation is adequate?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The inspection of the five Irish ports has been better done during the last few months than ever before.

Mr. FIELD

Can the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) give the House any information as to foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland at present?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL

I think I had better read to the House a telegram I have received from the Department as to the actual facts in Ireland:— 15th February, 1914. Following are results of Department's investigations so far in relation to Birkenhead outbreak. A telegram will be sent to-morrow morning giving additional particulars reported by then. As Board are aware from previous telegram to-day, Department have information regarding six shipments only out of the eight in which Hoard state disease has appeared. Newry Shipment (Collins's).—Eight cattle have been traced to farms and all in-contacts examined and found healthy. The remaining thirteen cattle in same cargo shipped by William Reilly, Carlingford, have also been all located and in-contacts examined and found healthy. The two swine and twelve sheep of same cargo have been located, and the animals in eon-taut, except in the case of two of the sheep, have been examined and found healthy. Report regarding remaining in-contacts expected shortly. Waterford Shipment.—The lot of sixty swine amongst which the six cases of disease appeared have been traced. Fifty-seven of these were purchased from numerous owners at Athenry Fair and three at Roscommon, but it is now known that the disease did not appear among this latter three. The fifty-seven are being traced, but, owing to obvious difficulties of investigation in this case, tracing will take some time. With the fifty-seven from Athenry was another pig, which, being overfatigued at Waterford, was not shipped. This animal is still at Waterford and is healthy. Dundalk First Shipment (shipped on 9th instant).— Casey's twenty cattle have all been located and all in-contacts found healthy. Dundalk Second Shipment (shipped on 11th instant).—Tracing in this case somewhat hampered owing to Department not having at first received from Birkenhead particulars of actual lots of swine amongst which the disease appeared, but it has now been ascertained that the consignors of such lots obtained them at fairs in Loughrea and Cavan. Tracing in these cases will also occupy some time. There were thirty swine intended for shipment to Flood, one of the consignees, which were in contact with others shipped for him among which the disease appeared. These thirty swine are still in the Dundalk inspection yard. They are all healthy. Belfast Shipment.—All Keenan's cattle have been located and the in-contacts are being inspected to-day. Dublin Shipment per steamship 'Carlow.'—Tracing in progress so far as particulars yet available regarding lots in which animals found affected. As regards general position no reports are coming to hand of any supposed cases either in scheduled district, or elsewhere, although all veterinary surgeons, and the police also, as well as officers of the Department throughout the country, including agricultural inspectors and the inspectors of local authorities, were circularised to be on the alert to secure prompt notification of any possible cases of foot-and-mouth disease. The telegram simply means that, although these cases have undoubtedly broken out at the landing-stage at Birkenhead, we cannot find the slightest trace of disease up to the present in Ireland.

Mr. FIELD

Is it not the right hon. Gentleman's opinion that the landing-stage at Birkenhead is infected and not in Ireland?

Mr. RUSSELL

Whoever is to answer that question, it is evident it is not me.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's statement that he has imposed no restriction on movement whatever of these in-contact stock, which are for the time being apparently healthy?

Mr. RUSSELL

Yes, Sir, in every case restrictions have been imposed.