§ 76. Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board has made any bacteriological examination of mussels from the mussel cleansing tanks erected by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee, at Aberdovey and Barmouth; if so, what is the result of such examination; and, if not, upon what evidence has the Board declined to fix a period of quarantine for the cleansing of mussels in the tanks?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Board were guided by reports of their responsible officers that the conditions affecting the tanks were such that no guarantee could be given that mussels relaid in them would be adequately cleansed.
§ 77. Mr. JONESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in refusing to approve of the mussel cleansing tanks at Barmouth and Aberdovey, the Board acted solely on their own responsibility, or whether, seeing that the matter was one dealing with public health, the advice of the 1439 Ministry of Health was obtained: and, if so, what was the nature of the advice submitted by them?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Board acted in accordance with the responsibility placed upon them by the Provisional Order under which the tanks were constructed. I shall be happy to request my right lion. Friend the Minister of Health to arrange for a joint inspection of the tanks by officers of the Ministry and of the Board it the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee so desire.
§ 78. Mr. JONESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board will arrange for a bacteriological examination of the mussels deposited for a period of not less than forty-eight hours in the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee's mussel cleansing tanks at Aberdovey and Barmouth, respectively?