§ 9. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the West Ham Corporation have paid £1,180 to Messrs. Cooper and Company, Carpenters Road, Stratford, West Ham, under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act for the past five years for the surrender of 61 horses under glanders or farcy orders; if he is aware that during the same period only £668 have been paid to other persons in the borough under the same orders, and in consequence many horses have been condemned suffering from glanders at the premises in question; and if he is prepared to have the stable condemned?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Harry Verney)I have ascertained from the local authority that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The position appears to be a serious one, and I will consider whether anything can be done in this special case.
§ 10. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Par liamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if it is the present policy of the Board not to slaughter pigs suspected of swine fever and belonging to a herd in which swine fever has been detected, in order, during the War time, to preserve as many pigs as possible; and whether he has been advised that the best way of avoiding the spread of the disease and increasing the stock of pigs is to refuse to slaughter or pay compensation?
§ Sir H. VERNEYThe hon. Member's question states the policy of the Board correctly up to a certain point, but to prevent misunderstanding I must explain that the Board refrain from slaughtering pigs only on premises which can be so isolated as to minimise the risk of the spread of disease.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAre these officials sufficiently careful in ascertaining if those premises can be isolated in that way?
§ Sir H. VERNEYYes, Sir.