HC Deb 28 July 1914 vol 65 cc1120-2
Mr. FIELD

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether he can now make a definite statement respecting the ports of Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford being opened for the export of livestock on Thursday next; whether livestock from Greenore will be permitted to land at Holyhead; whether Irish store stock will be allowed to travel to markets in Great Britain; and whether he will consider the expediency of instituting the promised inquiry with the object of arranging safeguarding regulations to lessen the frequency of suddenly imposed embargoes?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

An Order will be issued by the Board to come into operation at midnight on Thursday, allowing animals from any part of Ireland, except the scheduled area round the infected place, shipped from any port in Ireland to be landed at certain specified ports in Great Britain for slaughter within the landing-place. The Board propose, if no disquieting news is received in the meantime, to make a further Order to come into operation early next week authorising the landing of store stock from the unscheduled part of Ireland, subject to four days' detention at the ports in Great Britain, after which they will be allowed to be moved under licence to the farms. I shall be prepared to give full particulars if my hon. Friend will put down a question for Monday next.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

As the fair is to be held in county Cork next week, will a free movement of cattle be allowed?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I believe the scheduled area does not infringe upon the county Cork, but I think it is a question which had better be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department, of Agriculture. So far as we are concerned we accept animals from the port of Cork for slaughter. The stores will come under the regulations next week.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Vice-President, whether at the fair to be held next Thursday at Mitchelstown, they will be free to move the cattle about?

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

I think the scheduled area will be abolished by that time