17. Mr. RUNCIMANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the new laboratory of the Board at Weybridge for research in animals' diseases and for the immunisation of animals from native and tropical diseases, which was projected and started in 1913 with a 1461 Grant from the Development Fund, has been completed; whether any scientific investigations are yet conducted there; if so, into what diseases and with what result; whether any work in preventive medicine is undertaken, particularly with reference to the export of British livestock; whether the staff has been depleted by recruiting for the Army; if so, what steps are being taken to obviate any interruption of the work of the laboratory; and whether he can make a statement on the progress and prospect of the scheme?
§ Sir R. WINFREYI am glad to say that the Board's laboratory at Addlestone, near Weybridge, is now practically completed, and that already several scientific investigations have been undertaken there. The chief of these are in regard to louping-ill and the poisoning of cattle by ragwort and by bracken Useful results have been obtained in all of them, especially in regard to louping-ill, a disease which has for many years placed a heavy burden on sheep farmers in various parts of the United Kingdom. Its cause and the method of its spread have been discovered, and it seems quite possible that the remedial measures necessary will be such as can be carried out without the need for restrictions on the movement of sheep. As regards preventive medicines, the laboratory prepares and sends out anti-swine-fever serum at the rate of about 6,000 doses per month, and anti-abortion vaccine at the rate of about 1,700 doses per month. The best methods for immunising British live stock against tropical diseases before export are also continuously under consideration, and I understand that good progress has been made in this study. The laboratory staff has been depleted by recruiting for the veterinary services of the Army, and it is feared that some of the work may have to be suspended if any further men are taken for military service. In reply to the last part of the question, I am of opinion that the laboratory, which as the House may remember owes its existence mainly to the efforts of my right hon. Friend, is doing excellent work, and, as regards the future, will play a considerable part in agricultural reconstruction. I cannot now make a detailed statement of progress and prospects, but I will consider whether one should not be prepared and printed in the Board's Journal, or as a separate leaflet.