§ 42. Major CHURCHasked the Minister of Agriculture how many meetings have 1726 been held of the Advisory Committee appointed by him to investigate the problem of foot-and-mouth disease; and if he is in a position to supply the House with information arising from the deliberations of the Committee?
§ Mr. BUXTONI assume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Scientific Committee. This Committee has met twice, and there has been a meeting of a Sub-Committee. Much of the work of the Committee must, however, necessarily be done in other ways than by Committee meetings. Arrangements have been made for supplies of virus and for investigations on small animals at several laboratories under the direction of the Committee. An experimental station for investigations on farm animals has been approved by the Committee and plans are being drawn up for its equipment. The necessary work is not expected to take long to complete. I may add that the Committee does not desire to restrict laboratory investigations to persons working under its direction and it has, therefore, drawn up Regulations under which investigations by independent researchers may be conducted. These Regulations are designed to remove any risk of infection, and it is not in any case proposed to permit investigations upon farm animals except under the immediate direction of the Committee.